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A  MODERN  PENTECOST; 


EMBRACING  A   RECORD   OF  THE 


Sixteenth  J^atiojsal  j^amp-^zietinq 


FOR  THE  PROMOTION  OF  HOLINESS, 


July  23d  fo  August  1st,  1873. 


And    they    -w&re    all    filled,    ^vitlx    th.e    Holy    Grhost."-A.cts  2,  4. 


EDITED    BY 


Rev.  ADAM  WALLACE. 


PHILADELPHIA 


METHODIST  HOME  JOURNAL  PUBLISHING  HOUSE,   1 4  NORTH  SEVENTH  ST. 
1873. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 
7 


II 


Introductory  Note 

Historical  Sketch,  embracing  the  Revival  of  Camp  Meetings  in  Lancaster  county, 
Penna.,  1867 

Meeting  at  Manheim— Ministers  in  attendance— Father  Boehm 12 

Second  National  Camp-Meeting,  1868— Its  Wide-spread  Results— Selection  of 
Grounds  at  Landisville— Board  of  Control— Preparations  for  the  Sixteenth  Na- 
tional Camp • j2 

Opening  Day— The  Invitation  Extended— Once  More  to  the  Front— Set  up  the 

Tabernacle — Description  of  the  Grounds iq 

The  National  Association — Members  and  Working  Force  Present 18 

First  Religious  Service—"  Battle  Hymn  "—Opening  Prayer— Words  of  Welcome 
by  Rev.  C.  F.  Turner,  Presiding  Elder,  and  Rev.  C.  I.  Thompson,  President  of 


the  Local  Association. 


20 


Introductory  Address  by  Rev.  J.  S.  Inskip— The  Object  and  Plan   of  Operations 

Stated — Order  of  Daily  Services 24 

Description  of  the  Sun-rise  Devotions 29 

SECOND   DAY. 

Outline  Sketch  of  the  Morning  Meetings— The  Altar  Cleared— Seeking  the  Bap- 
tism of  Power 22 

Sermon  on  Divine  Election  to  Sanctification,  by  Rev.  Seymour  Coleman 35 

Observations 38 

Faith  in  God — Discourse  by  Rev.  A.  Lowrey,  D.  D. — Impressive  Consecration  Ser- 
vice   39 

The  Love  of  Christ — Sermon  by  Rev.  W.  L.  Gray,  Thursday  Evening 47 

THIRD  DAY. 

Heart-searching  Meeting  at  5  A.  m.— Address  of  Rev.  W.  H.  Boole— Experience  52 

The  National  Chart 56 

Testimony  by  Presbyterian  and  Baptist  Ministers 57 

Uttermost  Salvation — Discourse  by  Rev.  Wm.  McDonald — Statements  of  Doctrine — 

Application  by  Rev,  J.  S.  Inskip 58 

God  Glorified  by  Thanksgiving — Sermon  by  Rev.  W.  T.  HarliJW- 63 

A  Friday  Meeting  in  the  Landisville  Tabernacle 68 

Preachers'  Meeting  at  6  p.  m 70 

The  Silent  Meeting — Awe-inspiring  Scene — God  Directing  the  Movement 73 


FOURTH   DAY. 

Prayer  and  Testimony 7^ 

Reciting  Scripture  Texts 77 

The  Baptism  of  Power — Sermon  on  Acts  i  :  8,  by  Rev.   W.  H.  Boole — Striking 

Illustrations 7^ 

Afternoon  Meetings 84 

Sermon  by  Rev.  Alexander  McLean,   "  Thy  Will  be  Done." 86 

Remarkable  Experiences 89 

Business  Men's  Meeting 92 

Entire  Cleansing — A  Sermon  by  Rev.  J.  B.  Foote  in  the  Tabernacle — The  Camp 

in  a  Rain  Storm 9^ 


FIFTH   DAY. 

Sabbath  Morning loi 

The  General  Love  Feast — Animating  Scene — One  Hundred  Witnesses  for  Christ 

and  Full  Salvation 102 

The  New  Creation— Sermon  by  Rev.  J.  S.  Inskip— Holiness,  what  is  it,  and  how 

Attained "o 

Afternoon  Activities "9 

The  Skirmish  Line 120 

Storm  and  Panic  in  the  Tabernacle 121 

Great  Baptism  in  the  Prayer-tent 121 

Evening  Sermon  by  Rev  L.  C.  Matlack,  D.D 122 

Exhortation  by  Rev.  Wm.  McDonald — Faith  Explained  and  Illustrated 128 


SIXTH  DAY. 

Song  and  Testimony  Resumed — Results  of  the  Sabbath's  Devotions 131 

Monday  Morning  Sermon  on  Entire  Sanctification  by  Rev.  Edgar  M.  Levy,  D.D. 

of  Berean  Baptist  Church,  Phila. — Powerful  Effect  in  the  Prayer-meeting 138 

Dr.  Nast's  Sermon  to  the  German  Population  in  their  own  Language — "  Life  in  a 

Look  at  the  Crucified  One." 147 

Various  Exercises  during  the  afternoon 152 

Sermon  by  Rev.  J.  E.  Searles,  "  Crucified  with  Christ." ". 153 

Evening  Sermon  by  Rev.  I.  Simmons  "  Walking  in  the  Light." 163 


SEVENTH   DAY. 

A  Memorable  Morning — Love  Feast  Testimonies — Christian  Liberality 165 

Memorial  Services — Tribute  to  the  Memory  of  Rev.  G.  C.  Wells 168 

Entire  Consecration  :  Sermon  by  Rev.  Lewis  R.  Dunn — A  Surrender  of  the  Heart 

Demanded j, 170 

The  Lord  God  of  Elijah— Discourse  by  Rev.  Geo.  Hughes 181 

Mighty  to  Save :  Sermon  by  Rev.  C.  F.  Turner— Great  Movement  to  gather  in  Sin- 
ners— Many  Converted 183 


CONTENTS. 


EIGHTH   DAY. 


Increasing  Earnestness l88 

Disquisition  on  Tobacco 189 

Rev.  W.  Post  on  Masonry 190 

Dr.  Lowrey's  Second  Sermon 191 

Sernaon  by  Rev.  F.  Hodgson,  D.D.,  "The  name  Jesus." 193 

Testimony  of  Rev.  I.  M.  See , 198 

Rev.  J.  E.  Searles  at  the   Preachers'  Experience  Meeting — Remarks  of  Brothers 

Foote,  McFarlan,  Levy  and  Hodgson 199 

Evening  Services — Rev  Wm.  Bramwell  Osbom 202 

The  Colored  People's  Meeting — A  Happy  Time 203 

LAST  GREAT  DAY  OF  THE  FEAST. 

Father   Coleman  at  the  Early  Meeting — "  Impotent  Folk  "    Entering   the    Pool — 

Salvation  in  the  Breakfast-room 207 

Rev.  J.  B.  Foote — The  "  Open  Gate" — Dr.  Hodgson  "  Going  Down." 208 

Joseph  Barker's  Experience — The  way  he  Wandered  and   Fell — Sad  Life  of  an 

Infidel — How  Jesus  took  hold  of  him  and  Saved  him 210 

The  Coronation  Hymn  —"A  Thousand  Tongues  " — Making  a  Joyful  Noise 214 

"Cut  the  Shore  Line  "—Address  of  Rev.  W.  H.  Boole 215 

The  Last  Ministers'  Meeting 219 

Dr.  Nast's  Closing  Sermon 221 

Appeal  by  J.  S.  Inskip — His  own  Conversion 223 


INTRODUCTORY. 


To  PRESENT  SOMETHING  in  the  form  of  a  full  and  complete  rep- 
resentation of  at  least  one  of  the  National  Camp-meetings  for  the 
promotion  of  Holiness,  has  for  some  years  past  been  the  ardent 
wish  of  the  compiler  of  these  pages. 

When  the  first  of  this  wonderful  series  was  determined  upon  at 
Vineland,  in  1867,  we  had  arrangements  made  to  embody  its  varied 
exercises  in  a  book.  Had  we  succeeded,  no  volume  in  all  the  range 
of  our  spiritual  literature,  it  is  thought,  would  be  more  interesting 
to-day  and  for  many  years  to  come,  than  such  a  compendium  of 
practical  doctrine  and  experience. 

Through  the  columns  of  our  paper,  The  Methodist  Home 
Journal,  we  have  endeavored  to  furnish  the  best  synopsis  possible, 
of  every  meeting  of  this  character  that  has  transpired ;  but  to 
thousands  of  our  readers,  unable  to  participate  in  the  high  and  holy 
privileges  of  these  renowned  occasions  of  re-union  and  spiritual 
power,  the  reports  sent  forth  only  excited  a  desire  to  have  more 
ample  and  accurate  details  of  the  order,  incidents  and  daily  scenes 
of  these  gatherings  of  the  Lord's  people,  with  their  witnessing 
words,  and  kindling  songs,  relating  to  Jesus  and  his  great  salvation. 

The  volume  entitled  "  Penuel,  or  Face  to  Face  with  God,"  pub- 
lished a  few  years  ago  by  W.  C.  Palmer,  Jr.,  New  York  ;  and 
another,  more  recently  issued,  from  the  graphic  pen  of  Rev. 
George  Hughes— "Days  of  Power  in  the  Forest  Temple,"  by 
John  Bent  &  Co.,  Boston,  Mass.,  give,  respectively,  a  pretty 
thorough  resume  of  this  movement,  and  the  material  elements 
which  have  characterized  its  rise  and  progress. 

To  portray  one  meeting,  however,  working  up  its  actual  history, 
and  sketching  its  daily  services,  yet  remained  a  purpose  to  be  ac- 
complished. Correspondents  in  remote  sections  of  the  country, 
and  some  in  other  lands,  have  urged  upon  our  attention  the  pro- 
priety and  usefulness  of  such  a  work.     They  want,  in  some  such 


Vitj.  INTRODUCTORY. 

form,  a  model  of  the  management,  an  exhibit  of  its  genius  and 
force — and  to  this  end  we  have  attempted  the  task  of  putting  a 
National  Camp-meeting  in  a  book. 

When  Landisville,  in  the  heart  of  Eastern  Pennsylvania,  was 
designated  as  the  place  for  one  of  the  National  Meetings  of  1873, 
we  immediately  conceived  the  purpose  .of  gratifying  our  friends, 
by  placing  on  record  the  story  of  its  Pentecostal  manifestations  from 
the  presence  of  the  Lord. 

A  great  meeting  was  expected — and  none  who  prayed  and  waited 
for  the  result,  were  disappointed.  So  confident  were  we  that  God 
would  baptize  the  assembled  people  with  the  Holy  Ghost  and  fire 
sent  down  from  heaven,  that  the  plan  of  our  prospective  book  em- 
braced the  title,  "  Pentecost  Repeated."  After  the  lapse  of  time, 
and  some  interchange  of  thought,  we  have  modified  this  title  so 
as  to  avoid  questioning  and  criticism  as  far  as  needful,  and  the 
Landisville  National  Camp-meeting  of  1873  we  now  set  forth  as  "  A 
Modern  Pentecost."  We  hold  that  the  remarkable  days  described 
in  Acts  ii,  did  not  end,  but  opened  a  glorious  dispensation  of  the 
Spirit,  and  are  being  repeated  in  these  times. 

It  may  not  be  inappropriate  just  here  to  make  an  apology  and 
explanation,  due  on  account  of  delay  in  the  issue  of  this  publica- 
tion. After  a  careful  survey  of  our  facilities,  we  supposed  it  would 
be  in  the  hands  of  its  eager  readers  in  ten  days  after  the  meeting 
closed  ;  but  full  that  many  weeks  of  weary  work  rolled  over  us, 
and  found  our  preparation,  in  the  way  of  an  entire  set  of  stereotype 
plates,  unfit  for  the  press.  In  the  hurry  of  office  business  and  the 
ceaseless  demands  of  editorial  duty,  we  for  a  time  gave  way  to  dis- 
couragement, and  abandoned  the  enterprise.  Appeals  from  sources 
entitled  to  consideration  and  respect,  then  revived  our  energies,  and 
in  a  form  entirely  different  from  the  original,  we  have  re-printed  the 
whole  book. 

That  it  is  not  all  we  designed,  or  half  up  to  the  ideal  of  excel- 
lence we  entertained,  we  may  be  allowed  frankly  to  admit.  The 
stenographers  engaged  to  aid  us,  failed  to  attend,  and  the  personal 
supervision  required,  from  a  combination  of  occurrences  surround- 
ing us,  we  were  not  able  fully  to  render  at  the  meeting. 

It  would  have  been  a  matter  of  impossibility  with  us  to  have  fol- 


INTRODUCTORY.  IX 

lowed  the  entire  routine  of  services  during  the  successive  days  of 
devotion,  but  for  the  aid  and  assiduous  appHcation  of  Rev.  G. 
A.  Phoebus,  who,  with  a  few  generous  helpers,  and  the  assistance 
of  members  of  the^National  Association,  placed  at  our  disposal  the 
material  we  could  not  otherwise  have  obtained.  To  bring  it  within 
portable  compass  required  considerable  abbreviation.  What  in  our 
judgment  is  profitable  for  doctrine  and  edification,  we  have  carefully 
retained. 

The  series  of  sermons,  given  mostly  entire,  the  extended  reports 
of  testimony,  and  all  the  incidental  features  embraced,  will,  wq 
hope,  not  merely  allow  its  readers  to  enjoy  a  "feast  of  tabernacles  " 
at  their  own  firesides,  making  "  December  as  pleasant  as  May," 
but  quicken  desire  after  God,  convert  souls  that  are  temporizing  in 
sin,  and  pour  light  on  the  pathway  of  those  who  are  seeking  a 
deeper  baptism,  and  a  richer  experience  in  the  life  of  faith  and  love. 
Every  possible  phase  of  the  doctrine,  enjoyment  and  duties  of  Ho- 
liness will  be  found  illustrated  here.     May  the  Divine  blessing  rest 

on  every  pare,  and  every  reader  ! 

A.  WALLACE. 


A   MODERN    PENTECOST.  11 

BRIEF   SKETCH 

OF   THE 

REVIVAL  OF  CAMP-MEETINGS  IN  LANCASTER  CO,  Pa. 


For  twenty  years  prior  to  1867,  we  are  informed,  no  canip-meeting, 
under  the  exclusive  control  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  had  been  held  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pa. 

The  usage  had  been  kept  up,  however,  by  one  or  two  denominations,  whose 
manner  and  doctrine  were  adapted  to  this  peculiar  mode  of  worship. 

The  crowds  attending  these  meetings,  especially  on  the  Sabbath  day,  and  a 
prevailing  sentiment  among  the  people  that  the  occasion  was  little  else  than  a 
pic-nic,  created  such  disorder,  and  tended  so  largely  to  demoralization,  that  Meth- 
odists were  excusable  in  withholding  the  sanction  of  their  presence  from  all 
such  scenes  of  desecration  as  cast  odium  on  religion,  although  they  were  always 
willing  to  lend  a  helping  hand  in  every  effort  to  advance  the  gospel  and  save 
souls. 

In  the  revival  of  the  camp-meeting  spirit,  which,  by  coincidence,  occurred 
soon  after  the  starting  of  the  Methodist  Home  Journal,  the  communities 
respectively  of  the  cities  of  Lancaster,  Harrisburg,  Reading,  Lebanon  and  Co- 
lumbia, (all  in  a  group),  began  to  agitate  the  subject,  and  it  was  proposed  to 
hold  a  district  meeting.  The  difficulties  in  the  way  were  serious  enough  to 
intimidate  any  but  men  of  large  experience  and  indomitable  energy.  Such 
men  were  found,  and  led  by  Rev.  C.  I.  Thompson,  then  stationed  in  Lancaster. 
Brother  T.  had  succeeded,  on  the  Peninsula,  in  conducting  the  largest  meetings 
with  a  degree  of  nerve,  resolution  and  success  that  gave  him  confidence  in  this 
attempt  to  rally  the  forces  and  maintain  order,  even  among  the  most  stolid  and 
obstinate  of  the  German  population. 

MANHEIM. 

A  fine  grove  near  the  old  town  of  Manheim,  wa.s  with  some  difficulty  secured, 
and  the  meeting  commenced  August  8th,  1867.  Vineland  had  scattered  "live 
coals "  all  over  the  country.  The  working  force  at  Manheim  were  inspired 
with  new  zeal,  and  converting  and  sanctifying  grace  came  upon  the  people. — 
Father  Boehm,  in  his  93d  year,  preached  one  of  the  sermons,  addressing  the 
grandchildren  of  his  own  early  associates  in  that  vicinity. 

Referring  to  a  report  of  the  first  Manheim  meeting,  published  in  the  Home 
Journal  of  x\ugust  17,  1873,  written  by  Rev.  T.  B.  Miller,  we  find  the  fol- 


12  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

lowing  brethren  named  as  having  preached  on  the  ground  :  Messi-s.  Isett,  Kess- 
Icr,  J.  F.  Meredith,  Pugh,  J.  P.  Miller,  Hurlock,  O'Neill,  S.  H.  C.  Smith,  T. 
B.  Miller,  G.  Cummins,  Pancoast,  Eakestraw,  Lindamuth,  W.  L.  Gray,  P. 
Elder,  J.  W.  Jackson,  Freuud,  Wiggins,  Cookman,  J.  A.  Wood,  J.  F.  Chap- 
lain, C.  I.  Thompson  and  Wm.  Major,  then  pastor  at  Columbia. 

The  order  was  good,  although  a  few  refractory  cases  had  to  be  dealt  with  in 
a  manner  admonitory  to  others ;  rowdyism  was  met,  and,  on  its  own  chosen 
field,  completely  conquered. 

"When,  in  186S,  the  question  arose  as  to  a  site  for  the  Second  National 
Camp-Meeting,  Manheim  became  immortal  in  being  selected  as  the  most  central 
and  suitable  place  to  be  found. 

The  Presiding  Elder,  Rev.  W.  L.  Gray,  gave  personal  co-operation  to  the 
movement,  and  his  preachers  threw  their  influence  into  the  scale,  largely  con- 
tributing to  the  overwhelming  spiritual  power  and  signal  results  of  the  meeting. 

IMen  and  women  on  that  ground  received  such  power  from  on  high  that  their 
labors,  although  previously  of  little  account  in  the  church,  have  subsequently 
been  instrumental  in  the  salvation  of  thousands  of  souls.  We  might  refer,  for 
example,  to  R.  Pearsall  Smith  and  his  excellent  and  laborious  wife,  who,  at 
Manheim  as  never  before,  received  a  commission  from  God  which  has  absorbed 
their  being,  and  proved  an  untold  blessing  to  all  the  churches  through  their 
abundant  labors. 

In  18G9  the  encampment  was  moved  to  the  vicinity  of  Lebanon,  Pa.,  and, 
referring  to  our  visit  and  reports  published  that  year,  we  find  that  it  was  an  oc- 
casion of  great  interest.  Father  Boehm  was  again  present,  talking  to  the  peo- 
ple in  demonstration  of  the  Spirit,  and  with  power. 

Several  converts,  as  we  remember,  in  bearing  testimony  in  the  experience 
meetings,  poured  forth  their  praises  in  the  German  tongue,  and  the  venerable 
patriarch  stood  up  and  translated  their  burning  words  to  those  who  did  not  un- 
derstand the  language. 

At  this  meeting  (in  1869)  a  proposition  to  select  and  purchase  a  permanent 
camp-ground,  obtained  general  concurrence.  A  committee  was  appointed,  con- 
sisting of  Messrs.  Thompson  and  Glover,  Harrisburg  ;  Myers  and  Sampson, 
Lancaster ;  Patton  and  Grove,  Columbia,  with  other  brethren  whose  names 
have  escaped  us,  and  who,  after  a  thorough  examination  of  numerous  available 

places,  found  at 

LANDISVILLE 

a  grove  which,  in  their  judgment,  could  not  be  surpassed  for  accessibility  and 
all  the  prc-requisitcs  both  of  a  first-class  camping  ground  and  a  summer  resi- 
dence.    The  features  of  the  grove  ai-e  thus  described  : 

THE   MEANS   OP   ACCESS 

to  the  ground  arc  direct— it  being  situated  at  the  junction  of  the  Pennsylvania 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  13 

Central  and  the  Reading  and  Columbia  Railroads,  connecting  witli  all  the  great 
lines  North  and  South,  East  and  West. 

THE    LOCATION 

is  very  beautiful  and  picturesque,  being  in  the  most  fertile  and  best  cultivated 
part  of  Lancaster  county. 

THE    ATMOSPHERE 

is  pure,  free  from  miasmatic  influence,  and  conducive  to  health — a  desirable  re- 
sort for  invalids. 

THE    GROUND 

is  a  splendid  park  of  about  twenty-five  acres  of  majestic  oak,  walnut  and  hick- 
ory trees,  towering  over  one  hundred  feet,  free  from  underbrush,  and  affording 
a  perfect  circulation  of  air.  The  supply  of  water  is  abundant,  and  deliciously 
cool. 

An  association  was  formed,  the  ground  purchased  and  enclosed,  and  the  first 
meeting  was  held  there,  commencing  July  26,  1870.  It  was  under  the  control 
of  the  Presiding  Elder  of  Ilarrisburg  district.  Rev.  Dr.  Pattison,  and  continued 
as  a  district  camp-meeting  during  the  seasons  of  1871  and  1872.  Of  the  ex- 
ercises at  each  of  these  meetings,  we  have  given  reports  from  year  to  year  in 
the  Home  Journal. 

Meanwhile  the  grounds  were  improved,  surveyed  and  apportioned  off  in  lots 
to  suit  purchasers,  and  the  blessing  of  God,  invoked  in  earnest  prayer,  had 
come  on  the  place  and  people,  consecrating  Landisville  forever  as  a  leafy  temple 
in  which  devout  souls  might  worship  the  Lord  in  the  beauty  of  holiness. 

Referring  to  the  attractions  and  adaptation  of  the  gi'ounds,  in  our  notes  of 
1872,  we  remember  having  said  : 

"  After  greatly  enlarged  experience  since  we  first  called  attention  to  the  ex- 
traordinary advantages  of  this  noble  forest,  we  can  heartily  endorse  the  opinion 
expressed  by  all  who  visit  it,  that  a  finer  location  for  camp-meeting  purposes 
could  not  be  desired. 

"  The  interlacing  branches  of  these  tall  trees  form  a  refreshing  shade,  the 
supply  of  water  is  '  abundant,  free  and  clear,'  and  for  area  and  general  conven- 
ience, we  submit  that  the  National  Camp-Meeting  for  1873,  or  one  of  the  series 
to  be  held  next  year,  could  not  find  a  better  place  than  Landisville.  The  pres- 
tige and  holy  memories  of  Manheim  have  not  paled  in  contrast  with  the  many 
gi-eat  meetings  held  in  other  places  since  1868,  and  thousands  would  experience 
a  thrill  of  pleasurable  anticipation  if  it  should  please  the  National  Association 
to  appoint  another  jManheim  meeting,  only  in  a  better  grove,  and  where  every 
preparation  is  already  made  for  such  a  gathering  of  the  Lord's  people,  on  the 
most  extensive  scale." 

The  Board  of  Control,  through  their  President,  Rev.  C.  I.  Thompson  ex- 
tended an  invitation  to  the  National  Association  in  accordance  with  the  above 


14  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

suggestion,  and  the  latter,  at  their  annual  meeting  in  New  York,  October  IG, 
1872,  accepted  it,  and  placed  Landisville  on  the  list  for  July  23d,  1873,  one 
mpeting — Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,  preceding,  and  two,  Moundsville,  West  Ya., 
and  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  following  this  date. 

Early  in  the  season,  the  local  Board  of  Control  began  their  forecasting,  to 
have  all  preliminary  arrangements  completed  before  the  appointed  day.  Com- 
mittees were  designated,  to  whose  judgment  was  assigned  the  diiferent  depart- 
ments of  work.  In  this  connection  we  present  the  minutes  of  a  meeting  held 
on  the  camp  ground  May  14,  1873.  There  were  present,  Rev.  C.  I.  Thomp- 
son, President ;  Wm.  Paton,  Yice  President ;  Gr.  F.  McFarland,  Secretary  ;  E. 
Hershey,  Treasurer ;  Samuel  Grove,  John  \Y.  Glover,  George  M.  Brubaker, 
Jos.  Samson,  John  B.  Good,  S.  M.  Myers,  Jacob  Shaffer,  D.  Beideman  and 
W.  K.  Bender,  Managers;  also  Rev.  C.  F.  Turner,  P.  E.,  Rev.  A.  Wallace,  of 
the  Methodist  Home  Journal,  Messrs.  Wilhelm,  and  Holt,  and  Rev.  John 
C.  Gregg. 

To  Bros.  Patton,  Grove,  J.  W.  Awl  and  E.  Hershey,  was  assigned  the 
charge  of  erecting  and  superintending  lodging  houses  and  boarding  arrange- 
ments. 

Messrs.  Hershey,  Grove  and  Samson  were  appointed  a  committee  to  provide 
tent  accommodations. 

Committee  on  Tabernacle,  Messrs.  Glover,  Crouse,  Brubaker,  Grove  and 
Myers. 

To  Rev.  C.  I.  Thompson,  President,  was  assigned  the  duty  of  arranging  with 
raUroad  companies  for  a  reduction  of  fare  to  and  from  the  National  Camp- 
meeting. 

The  re-arrangement  and  enlargement  of  the  ground  was  committed  to  Bros 
Hershey,  Glover,  Good  and  Grove. 

The  police  and  sanitary  departments  were  placed  in  charge  of  Messrs.  Glover, 
Samson,  Holt,  Myers  and  Patton. 

The  transfer  of  passengers  and  baggage  from  depot  to  camp  ground  was  com- 
mitted to  Bros.  Patton  and  Myers. 

All  applications  for  tents  to  be  made  to  Samuel  Grove,  and  the  postal  and 
book  arrangements  to  be  left  in  the  hands  of  the  President.  After  correspon- 
dence with  the  National  Association,  they  assumed  the  entire  control  of  the 
book  and  periodical  business,  and  secured  the  services  of  Rev.  C.  A.  JMaulsbury, 
of  New  Jersey  Conference,  to  attend  to  it.  The  reception  and  forwarding  of 
all  mail  matter  was  carefully  attended  to  by  Rev.  C.  C.  McLean. 

Bros.  Ellcnbcrger,  of  Harrisburg,  and  Prof  J.  R.  Sweeney,  of  the  Penna. 
Military  Academy,  were  on  hand  to  render  aid  in  conducting  the  singing. 

J.  Wesley  Awl,  Esq.,  after  the  daparture  of  Col.  McFarland  to  Europe,  wtis 
appointed  Secretary  of  the  Board,  in  the  further  preliminary  bu.sincss,  and 
during  the  camp-meeting. 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  15 

To  the  Editor  of  the  Home  Journal  was  assigned  all  needed  space  for  tents 
in  rear  of  the  stand,  and  facilities  for  reporting  the  exercises  of  the  meeting. 

Pursuant  to  these  appointments,  the  buildings  were  erected,  tents  put  up, 
seating  arranged,  and  people  far  and  near  invited  to  attend  the  meeting,  and 
meanwhile  pray  for  its  success. 


OPENING  DAY 

OP  THE  SIXTEENTH  NATIONAL  CAMP-MEETING. 

Where  the  review  of  the  wonderful  work  of  God  at  fourteen  National 
Camp-meetings,  in  the  book  entitled  "  Days  of  Power  in  the  Forest  Temple,"  by 
Rev.  George  Hughes,  closes,  we  would  like  to  resume  the  history,  and  repeat 
the  incidents  of  the  Fifteenth,  which  was  held  in  Iowa,  closing  July  4,  1873  ; 
but  that  would  comprise  a  volume  in  itself,  as  thrilling  as  any  ever  written. 
The  tidings  of  victory  from  the  western  banks  of  the  Mississippi,  coming  east- 
ward, inspired  the  hosts  of  Israel  to  pray  and  believe  for  a  Pentecost  at  liandis- 
ville.  Repeatedly,  through  the  Home  Journal,  the  trumpet  was  sounded, 
and  the  people  called  upon  to  "  come  up  to  the  help  of  the  Lord."  Rev.  C.  I. 
Thompson,  in  his  general  circular  issued  the  following  bugle  note : — 
"  come  to  this  feast  op  tabernacles. 

''  Come  from  the  North  ;  come  from  the  South  ;  come  from  the  East ;  come 
from  the  West !  Come  fully  marshalled  for  the  conflict,  with  banners  flying, 
having  inscribed  upon  them — 

'  holiness  to  the  lord.' 

"  Come,  expecting  the  baptism  of  power ;  come,  praying  that  God  may  send 
an  influence  out  from  the  meeting,  that  will  cause  the  powers  of  hell  to  retreat, 
and  righteousness  to  prevail.  Let  all  churches  that  love  holiness  come,  that 
being  baptized  together  in  the  spirit  of  love,  they  may  no  more  vex  each  other, 
but  battle  unitedly  for  Christ  and  his  great  salvation." 

While  some  were  providentially  enabled  to  obey  the  invitation,  thousands, 
whose  hearts  were  stirred  within  them  with  desire  to  be  present,  had  to  forego 
the  privilege,  and  remain  at  home,  or  turn  to  other  paths  of  duty.  A  word  for 
both  classes  appeared  from  the  pen  of  brother  Hughes  in  the  Home  Journal 
at  the  beginning  of  the  exercises : — 

"ONCE  MORE  TO  THE  FRONT!" 

"  When  these  lines  greet  the  eyes  of  the  thousands  of  our  readers,  the  great 
convocation  of  the  friends  of  holiness  at  Landisvillei,  will  have  been  opened  ;  the 


16  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

old  '  battle-hymn'  will  have  been  sung,  holy  hands  uplifted,  and  ardent  supplica- 
tions breathed  into  the  Divine  ear,  and  the  introductory  words  of  counsel  and 
exhortation  spoken. 

"  There  are  two  classes  of  our  readers  at  this  hour,  sustaining  vital  relations 
to  this  meeting  : — 

"  First.  Those  privileged  to  attend  it.  Happy  are  the  eyes  that  will  look 
upon  its  scenes,  and  happy  are  those  hearts  that  may  be  under  the  droppings 
fi"om  above  at  Landisville.  But  we  would  remind  all  such  that  the  enjoyment 
of  these  extraordinary  Christian  privileges,  involves  vast  responsibilities.  Ten 
days'  tenting  ift  the  forest,  under  such  circumstances,  will  call  for  a  solemn 
reckoning  in  the  Judgment.  Be  apprised  of  this  ;  let  it  rest  upon  your  hearts, 
ye  dwellers  for  these  wonderful  days  at  Landisville  !  The  songs,  and  prayers, 
and  sermons  of  this  festival  of  1873,  should  stir  your  hearts  to  their  profoundest 
depths — draw  out  your  holiest  aspirations,  and  give  your  whole  character  a  more 
Christ-like  impress ;  and  then  remember,  dear  friends  of  Jesus,  that  you  are  in 
the  forest  temple  not  only  to  be  like  Christ,  but  to  do  like  Christ ;  and  what  do 
we  mean  by  doing  like  Christ  ?  Doing  !  Why  he  was,  during  each  hour  of 
the  day,  doing  the  will  of  his  Father  in  saving  erring  men.  Suffer  us  then  to 
exhort  you  lovingly  and  earnestly — 

"1.  Keep  your  hie ssed  Bible  near  you  at  Landisville.  Find  time  each 
day  to  read  and  ponder  it.  It  is  a  lamp  to  your  feet,  and  a  light  to  your  path. 
Hold  it  well  in  hand. 

"  2.  Be  sure  to  pray  in  secret.  Don't  merge  private  into  public  devotion. 
Have  some  time  each  day  alone  with  God,  in  the  tent,  or  at  the  foot  of  a  tree 
in  some  secluded  spot.  Attendance  upon  the  public  meetings  will  not  meet  the 
whole  case ;  be  alone  with  God  ;  speak  to  your  Father  when  no  one  else  is 
nigh  except  the  beloved  of  the  family. 

"  3.  Be  eager  to  win  a  soul  for  Jesus.  Be  after  some  one  ;  track  him 
through  the  forest  by  day  and  night,  if  need  be  :  but  be  wise  in  your  move- 
ments ;  study  the  case  well ;  follow  up  the  matter  steadily  and  determinedly, 
and  take  fast  hold  of  the  promise.  One  sonl  for  Jesus'!  Let  this  be  the 
universal  motto  on  the  ground.  Brother  !  sister !  I  charge  you  to  be  instant 
in  season  and  out  of  season,  to  win  a  soul.  Souls  are  bought  with  blood  di- 
vine. Jesus  is  in  travail  for  them  ;  angels  are  ministering  unto  them.  Up  !  ye 
blood-washed  people  at  Landisville — up  to  the  work  of  winning  souls !  God 
help  us  ! 

"  Second  :  Those  who  cannot  be  at  the  feast,  but  who  are  profoundly  inter- 
ested. We  are  sorry  you  cannot  be  there.  God  orders  your  absence — be  sub- 
missive. Let  no  murmur  escape  your  lips.  Be  calm,  and  sink  into  his  will ; 
but  be  present  in  spirit ;  let  your  prayer  and  faith  be  there  in  wondrous  energy. 
You  can  help  mightily  though  a  thousand  miles  away.     Perhaps  on  the  coming 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  17 

Sabbatli,  on  some  mountain  slope  or  in  an  humble  vale  hundreds  of  miles  away, 
in  the  quiet  of  your  rural  home,  you  will  read  what  we  are  writing.  Wc  coun- 
sel you  to  be  in  close  sympathy  with  us.  While  the  five-o'clock  meeting  is 
progressing  in  the  tabernacle,  or  the  love-feast  in  front  of  the  great  stand  at 
eight,  or  the  man  of  God  at  ten,  lifting  up  the  glorious  gospel  standard,  do  you 
in  spirit  be  in  close  connection  with  the  work.  Your  faith  may  be  the  hinge  of 
destiny — the  conductor  of  life-forces  to  human  souls.  Men  of  Israel,  help  ! 
Women  of  Zion,  be  much  at  the  throne  !  See  to  it  that  the  pentecostal  fire  is 
upon  every  head  and  heart  at  Landisville.  The  word  of  the  Lord  abideth  for- 
ever. Prayer  is  mighty,  and  must  prevail.  Faith  is  prolific  in  spiritual  results. 
Keep  the  angels  busy  in  bearing  tidings  heavenward  this  week.  0,  for  the  days 
of  the  Sou  of  Man  and  of  the  mighty  descending  of  the  Holy  Ghost !" 

SET    UP    THE    TABERNACLE. 

The  morning  of  Wednesday,  July  23d,  dawned  propitiously.  Trains  from 
the  four  cardinal  points  of  the  compass  had  deposited  at  the  Landisville  depot, 
hopeful  companies  and  heaps  of  camp  equipage.  From  Massachusetts,  Rhode 
Island,  Connecticut,  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  in  the  East ;  from  Ohio,  In- 
diana, Illinois,  West  Virginia,  and  Western  Pennsylvania;  Mai-yland,  Delaware, 
and  some  of  the  Southern  States;  and  down  the  Northern  Central,  from  the 
region  of  the  lakes,  the  people  came,  and  were  speedily  transferred  to  their  tents 
and  temporary  lodging  places  in  the  encampment. 

The  great  National  Tabernacle,  the  pride  of  Mr.  Inskip,  (if  he  has  any  of 
that  article  cleaving  to  him),  was  not  yet  up.  Good  brother  Little,  who  had 
been  expected  from  New  York  to  superintend  its  erection,  had  gone  across  the 
Atlantic,  and  Mr.  Inskip  had  to  hurry  forward  and  direct  in  the  matter  himself 

In  due  time  the  huge  canvas  superstructure  rose  into  position  on  the  edge  of 
the  outside  circle  of  tents,  and  they  who  admiringly  traced  its  histoiy  across 
the  continent,  its  services  in  the  cities  and  on  the  plains  of  the  West,  and  re- 
membered that  thousands  had  been  baptized  with  power  under  its  canopy,  greeted 
once  more  its  symmetrical  proportions  as  it  became  a  feature  of  the  meeting  at 
Landisville. 

We  had  time,  during  the  day,  to  glance  at  the  topography  of  the  ground, 
study  the  sublimity  of  sunlight  on  the  leafy  bower  arching  gracefully  above 
us,  where  mighty  trees  interlocked  their  boughs,  the  trunks  appearing  as 
pillared  aisles  in  a  vast  cathedral. 

From  the  depot,  where,  at  right  angles,  the  Reading  and  Columbia,  and 
Pennsylvania  Railroads  cross  each  other,  a  five-minute  walk  brings  one  to  the 
village  after  which  the  encampment  is  named.  Rising  a  gentle  slope,  we  de- 
scend on  the  other  side,  and  find  a  substantial  fence  with  strong  gates  for 
ingress  and  egress.  Inbide,  we  pass  through  a  grand  piece  of  primitive  for- 
est, unoccupied  except  by  baggage  depot,  dormitories,  and  a  boarding  tent 


18  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

or  two,  and  crossing  a  small  bridge,  we  are  soon  within  a  circle  composed  of 
family  tents,  tasteful  cottages,  and  the  auditorium  gradually  rising  from  an 
octagon  preaching  stand.  The  ground  we  suppose  to  be  capable  of  seating 
two  or  three  thousand  hearers.  The  circle  itself  will  accommodate  five  or 
six  thousand  people.  On  the  outskirts  of  the  camp  three  boarding  estab- 
lishments were  organized  for  useful  purposes,  and 

THE   RESTAURANT, 

a  large  two-story  building,  L  shaped,  and  temporarily  furnished,  gave  promise 
of  unusual  comfort  in  this  department.  It  was  under  the  control  of  Mr.  Gr. 
W.  Wanamaker,  the  popular  caterer,  of  Philadelphia,  and  superintended  by 
Mr.  Jas.  McCormick  in  the  financial,  and  Mr.  Sooy  in  the  culinary  respon- 
sibilities. 

THE    NATIONAL    ASSOCIATION 

was  more  largely  represented  the  first  day  than  we  have  ever  known  at  any 
former  meeting  under  their  auspices.     There  were  present. 

The  President,  Rev.  J.  S.  Tnskip,  and  Mrs.  Inskip,  Ocean  Grove,  N.  J. 
Rev.  Seymour  Coleman,  Williamsport,  Pa. 

"    G.  Hughes  and  wife,  Woodstown,  N.  J. 

*'    W.  McDonald  and  wife,  Boston,  Mass. 

*'    Dr.  Lowry,  wife  and  son,  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

"    W.  H.  Boole  and  friends.  New  York  City. 

"    A.  McLean,  wife  and  daughter,  Hudson,  N.  Y. 

"    W.  T.  Harlow,  Duxbury,  Mass. 

"   J.  B.  Foote,  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

"    Dr.  Matlack  and  wife,  Wilmington.  Del. 

"    Dr.  Wm.  Nast,  wife  and  son,  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

"    W.  L.  Gray,  Philadelphia. 
Mr.  Levi  Perry  and  wife,  Baltimore,  Md. 

"    Wm.  T.  Perkins,  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and 

"  G.  M.  Brubaker,  Millersburg,  Pa. 
Subsequently  Revs.  L.  R.  Dann,  Elizabeth,  N.  J.,  Wm.  B.  Osborn,  Ocean 
Grove,  N.  J.,  J.  E.  Searles  and  wife,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  John  Bent,  Bos- 
ton, Mass.,  arrived  and  participated  in  the  services.  Only  Messrs.  J.  A. 
Wood,  of  Madison,  N.  Y.,  and  C.  Munger,  of  Alfred,  Maine,  were  absent — 
the  former  through  indisposition,  and  the  latter  detained  by  pressing  engage- 
ments in  his  home  field. 

The  hours  of  Wednesday  passed  rapidly  and  pleasantly  as  new  arrivals 
came  in  with  every  train,  and  extra  tiers  of  tents  were  put  in  position  by  Mr. 
Grove  and  his  working  force,  to  accommodate  unexpected  emergencies.  We 
have  an  inclination  to  attempt  some  description  of  the  trials  incident  to  the 
officers  of  the  local  association,  who  were  under  fire  of  cross-questioning  from 


A   MODERN  PENTECOST.  19 

morning  until  late  at  night.  Our  own  headquarters  being  prominent,  and 
adjoining  the  "  Of&ce,"  we  had  occasion  to  sympathize  with  them,  and  share 
to  some  extent  in  their  tribulations. 

One  party  arrives  and  must  have  a  tent  of  specified  size  and  eligible  posi- 
tion, right  away. 

"  Did  you  order  your  tent  beforehand  ?" 

"  No ;  but  we  want  it  now." 

"  We  haven't  time  to  attend  to  you.     Why  didn't  you  let  us  know  ?" 

*'  0,  come  ;  where's  your  men  ?     Get  me  a  tent  at  once." 

The  "  Committee  "  yield,  and  are  about  to  erect  a  tent  for  the  homeless 
when  another  exclaims  :  "  I  ordered  a  tent ;  show  me  where  it  is." 

"  Here,  before  you  go,  please  help  me." 

"  Where's  your  Post-office  ?"  inquires  a  lady  who  arrived  early,  is  nicely 
fixed,  and  now  must  dispatch  a  letter  containing  advice  of  arrival  and  first 
impressions. 

"  Can  I  obtain  lodgings  ?"  asks  a  clerical  looking  person  with  small  valice 
and  linen  duster,  already  weary  with  waiting  for  some  one  to  attend  to  him. 

"  Our  lodging-rooms  are  all  full,"  is  the  reply  ;  "  but  if  you  have  a  shawl 
and  pillow,  we  can  fix  you."  He  has  neither,  and  wonders  he  had  not  the 
common  sense  to  bring  some  indispensables  of  this  kind  with  him.  He  is 
finally  taken  in  by  some  one,  at  great  inconvenience  to  them,  because  he 
lacked  "  common  sense  "  to  provide  for  himself 

"  When  will  my  baggage  arrive  ?"  asks  a  sister.  This  inquiry  is  addressed 
to  the  person  who  does  not  attend  to  that  department.  Another's  checks  are 
misplaced,  and  the  telegraph  is  brought  into  requisition.  Two  days  must 
elapse  before  the  trunk  is  discovered  a  hundred  miles  away. 

Yonder  stands  a  group  of  friends  after  a  long  journey.  No  provision 
made  because  they  didn't  write,  and  they  didn't  write  because  it  was  only  on 
the  spur  of  an  impulse  they  decided  to  come. 

The  hammer  and  saw  are  plied  with  vigor.  A  pyramid  of  bunks,  and 
every  article  in  the  furniture  emporium,  disappear,  until  not  even  a  bucket 
or  a  broom  can  be  procured. 

"I  can  get  nobody  to  attend  to  me  " — murmurs  one.  "  I  never  met  such 
clever  people,"  observes  another.  "  Why  there  is  Mr.  Gr.,  he  met  us  with 
smiles,  and  staid  by  us  until  everything  was  complete  for  our  comfort." 

"  What  do  you  charge  for  board  here  ?"  is  the  cautious  inquiry  at  the 
large  restaurant. 

"  Whatever  you  please,"  is  the  answer.  "  Here  is  our  bill  of  fare." 
Ample  variety;  every  taste  and  temperament  suited;  a  meal  for  ten  cents; 
or,  if  on  the  epicurian  style,  you  can  extend  your  order  and  gratify  your 
taste  at  higher  rates. 


20  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL    CAMP-MEETING. 

We  might  here  throw  in  parenthesis,  that  the  restaurant  plan,  introduced 
by  Bro.  Wanamaker,  in  city  style,  proves  most  satisfactory,  to  all  parties,  of 
any  we  have  ever  witnessed. 

"  Twenty  men  needed  to  help  us  raise  the  Tabernacle  \"  is  the  announce- 
ment; and  soon  the  ropes  are  manned,  and  more  than  forty  gather  to  see 
how  it  is  done,  exchanging  opinions  on  the  laws  of  dynamics,  but  forgetting 
to  put  their  own  shoulder  to  the  work. 

Friends  who  met  at  Oakington,  or  Asbury  Grove,  or  Round  Lake,  meet 
once  more.  Their  acquaintance  was  formed  under  memorable  auspices, 
where  praise  and  prayer  may  "  unite  to  perfect  them  in  one,"  and  is  joy- 
fully renewed  here. 

Some  arrive  early,  and  wonder  why  others  are  so  hurried,  and  so  late. 
Ah  !  these  unfortunates  are  never  up  to  time.  It  has  been  a  long  race,  and 
they  are  always  a  little  behind.  They  miss  the  cars,  lose  their  umbrella, 
have  to  borrow  a  watch  key,  or  get  into  their  trunks  by  the  aid  of  a  hatchet ; 
they  belong  to  the  irregulars  in  the  skirmish  line  of  life. 

The  opening  of  the  exercises  is  delayed  because  the  Tabernacle  must  be 
made  all  taut,  before  Mr.  Inskip,  perspiring  at  the  work,  can  devote  his 
attention  to  anything  else.  It  may  seem  a  useless  expenditure  of  time  and 
energy  to  fit  up  such  enlarged  accommodations  in  case  of  rain,  for  no  rain 
cloud  is  visible,  the  sky  is  clear,  and  the  forest  shade  refreshingly  beautiful. 

All  this  may  be ;  but  rain  may  come  (as  it  did  in  torrents,)  and  then  pru- 
dent foresight  will  reap  the  reward,  and  the  success  of  the  meeting  may 
depend  on  this  very  Tabernacle.  So  Mr.  Inskip  holds  on  until  the  work  is 
done.  Then  the  evening  meal  is  partaken  of  with  thankful  zest,  and  at  6 
P.  M.  the  welcome  bell  gives  out  its  summons  for  the  opening  services. 


FIRST  RELIGIOUS  SERVICE. 

WEDNESDAY,    JULY    23,    1873. 

The  hour  was  still  and  sweet.  Torrid  heat  became  tempered  with  the 
gathering  haze  of  evening,  dnd  the  western  sky,  as  the  sun  descended, 
appeared  like  a  fleece  of  fine  gold.  Serenity  like  a  mantle  spread  over  the 
scene,  and  no  better  mood  could  be  imagined  for  devotion  than  that  in  which 
the  people  responded  to  the  tones  of  the  bell,  and  hurried  out  to  meeting. 

Bearing  camp  chairs,  or  taking  the  nearest  seats  to  the  stand,  in  which 
all  the  ministers  present  were  invited  to  sit,  the  worshippers  filled  the  space 


A    MODERN    PENTECOST.  21 

in  front,  and  the  congregation  soon  extended  far  out  into  tlie  auditorium.  A 
volunteer  voice  started  "  Rock  of  Ages,"  and  the  chorus  was  echoed  by 
nearly- "  a  thousand  tongues";  other  stanzas  followed,  improving  the  time, 
until  the  President  of  the  National  Association  came  forward,  hymn-book 
in  hand,  and  said,  ''  Let  us  sing  the  290th  hymn." 
He  then  read  through,  and  the  people  sung 

"There  is  a  fonntain  filled  with  blood, 

Drawn  from  Immannel's  veins, 
And  sinuers  plunged  beneath  that  flood 

Lose  all  their  guilty  stains." 

By  frequent  use  and  never  failing  power  and  interest,  this  is  well  entitled 

THE    "battle    hymn    OF    THE    NATIONAL   ASSOCIATION." 

From  the  well-remembered  opening  day  at  Vineland  in  18G7,  we  believe 
every  National  Camp-meeting  has  commenced  with  Cowper's  immortal 
lyric,  which  tells  the  whole  Gospel — sin  and  ruin,  redemption  and  salvation, 
full,  present  and  free,  in  life,  in  death,  and  through  the  singing  ages  of 
eternity — all  in  five  sweet  stanzas.  How  it  has  leaped  from  joyful  lips,  or 
welled  from  broken  hearts !  How  the  woods  have  resounded  with  its  paean 
of  peace,  and  note  of  victory !  How  England's  poet  of  a  century  ago,  in 
the  seat  he  found  in  heaven  through  the  cleansing  blood  of  which  he  sung, 
and  set  the  world  singing,  has  greeted  gathering  thousands  by  the  banks  of 
the  river,  who  entered  into  life,  and  "washed  all  their  sins  away,"  under  its 
promptings  of  faith  in  the  "dear,  dying  Lamb  !'' 

The  singing  was  indescribably  grand,  and  as  the  last  refrain  ceased, 
everybody,  near  and  remote,  knelt  down  in  prayer.  One  minute  of  silence 
most  profound,  and  then  in  simple,  measured  utterance,  Mr.  Inskip  pro- 
ceeded to  supplicate  the  throne,  as  follows  : 

"0  Lord,  we  are  once  more  sent  forth  to  labor  for  Thee.  The  moment  is 
one  of  peculiar  solemnity  and  interest.  All  of  us  who  have  anything  what- 
ever to  do  with  this  encampment,  feel  that  we  have  now  come  to  a  crisis,  and 
whatever  we  have  done  previously  to  meet  the  issues  here  drawn,  there  is  a 
conscious  trembling  to  enter  upon  the  chief  work  before  us.  The  seculari- 
ties  connected  with  this  occasion  have  been  pleasantly  adjusted.  The  people 
have  assembled,  and  the  arrangements  are  all  complete  and  satisfactory. 
But,  0  Lord,  we  are  now  entering  upon  the  spiritual  responsibilities  of  the 
meeting.  We  pray  Thee  furnish  special  help.  We  have  no  experience  to 
suggest  any  mode  of  procedure  toward  success — no  help  in  ourselves,  no 
endowment  for  this  hour.  We  need  as  never  before  the  baptism  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  that  we  may  perform  Thy  will.  0  that  the  blessed  Holy  Ghost 
would  come  into  this  congregation  and  influence  every  mind  and  heart ! 
[Amen.] 


22  SIXTEENTH   NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

"  We  pray  that  our  dear  brethren  of  the  Local  Association  may  have  their 
largest  expectations  exceeded  here.  They  have  prayed  that  the  arm  of 
the  Lord  might  be  made  bare  on  this  occasion.  Lord  bless  them !  Bless 
the  President  of  the  Association,  and  all  his  associates  wonderfully.  If 
there  are  any  souls  in  their  families  unconverted,  0  Lord,  save  every  one 
of  them.  [Amen.]  On  their  own  hearts  pour  out  Thy  spirit,  so  that  in  all 
the  trials  incident  to  the  management  of  the  meeting,  they  may  have  great 
sweetness  of  spirit,  great  peace  with  God,  and  great  power  in  prayer. 
[Amen.] 

"  Lord  bless  us,  their  brethren  who  have  come  here  at  their  invitation  to 
promote  Thy  cause.  We  must  have  a  powerful  baptism  to  do  this  work. 
May  our  brother,  the  Presiding  Elder,  and  all  the  preachers  on  his  district, 
be  greatly  refreshed  and  have  revivals  all  over  the  district,  and  may  many 
souls  be  converted. 

*'  We  pray  Grod  that  all  ministers  who  have,  or  who  may  come  on  this 
ground,  may  receive  a  great  blessing,  to  enable  them  to  labor  on  successfully 
in  their  holy  calling. 

"We  ask,  0  Lord,  that  this  meeting  maybe  fruitful  in  good  results;  in  the 
sanctification  of  every  minister  on  the  ground.  Send  on  this  people  a  Pente- 
cost of  power  beyond  anything  that  has  ever  occurred  since  that  day  of 
wonders  in  Jerusalem!  Lord,  save  more  souls  here  than  were  converted 
there !  Thou  canst  do  a  great  work,  if  we  have  faith  in  asking.  Thou  hast 
told  us  to  ask  largely,  and  promised  to  help  and  bless.  We  ask  in  the  name 
of  Jesus,  for  awakening  and  sanctifying  grace ! 

"  Let  there  be  such  a  condition  of  things  here  that  every  person  coming 
inside  the  gate  may  see  in  us  a  spirit  that  shall  constrain  them  to  say,  we 
have  been  with  Jesus. 

"  Gro  around  this  ground,  my  God,  and  take  possession  of  all  hearts.  If 
any  are  here  to  make  money,  may  they  get  uneasy.  Let  them  feel  now  the 
touch  of  Thy  hand.  Send  on  us  now  a  token  for  good.  On  the  stand  here, 
on  thy  people,  and  on  unbelievers,  let  Thy  presence  be  felt. 

"  Repeat  Manheim — that  spot  of  historic  renown — and  go  far  beyond  it  in 
power.  Now,  Lord,  arise  for  our  help,  and  stay  with  us  until  the  close,  and 
we'll  give  Thee  all  the  glory.  We  will  trust  Thee  before  the  work  is  done, 
that  Thou  wilt  give  the  victory.  Hear  our  cry !  Answer  prayer  !  Thou 
art  able  to  do  exceeding  abundantly  above  all  we  can  ask  or  think.  Glory, 
glory,  glory  to  the  Lamb ! 

"  Some  of  our  brethren  who  would  have  been  here,  are  on  the  streets  of 
the  city  of  the  Great  King.  One  "swept  through  the  gates,"  and  another 
lately  died  "  clinging  to  the  cross." 

"  My  God !  if  this  is  the  last  camp-meeting  we  shall  attend,  let  it  be  the 
best,  and  thou  shalt  have  all  the  praise.     Amen." 


A   MODERN    PENTECOST.  23 

ADDRESS    OP   REV.    C.    F.    TURNER. 

Immediately  after  prayer,  Rev.  C.  F.  Turner,  Presiding  Elder  of  Sus- 
quehanna district,  within  the  bounds  of  which  the  meeting  was  held, 
addressing  Mr.  Inskip,  said : 

"It  is  with  the  greatest  degree  of  pleasure,  that  I,  as  a  sinner  converted  by 
the  pardoning  grace  of  God,  having  no  merit  of  my  own,  no  virtue  of 
which  I  may  boast,  but  trusting  ift  the  blood  of  the  Lamb,  do  welcome  you, 
Mr.  President,  and  your  Association,  to  our  midst,  and  to  the  charge  of  this 
camp-meeting. 

"  We  have  looked  forward  to  this  day  with  prayerful  and  hopeful  interest. 
For  months  we  have  been  praying  and  hoping  for  a  wonderful  Pentecostal 
visitation  to  attend  this  meeting.  We  have  from  our  family  altars,  in  our 
love-feasts  and  quarterly  meetings,  and  in  our  public  congregations,  looked 
to  the  "Grodof  Hosts,"  for  His  all-powerful  sin-killing  and  sanctifying 
presence.  • 

"  We  know  that  the  President  of  the  Local  Association  has  united  with  us 
ardently  in  prayer  that  God  may  make  this  meeting  to  be  attended  with  a 
power  greater  in  the  Holy  Spirit's  baptism,  at  this  first  introductory  assem- 
blage and  meeting,  than  that  extraordinary  and  ever  memorable  meeting  at 
Manheim,  only  a  few  miles  distant  from  this  place. 

"What  reason  I  have  to  remember  that  meeting.  There,  by  the  constrain- 
ing influences  of  the  blessed  Holy  Spirit,  I  first,  with  fear  and  trembling, 
publicly  confessed  to  the  amazing  grace  and  power  of  God  in  my  full  and 
complete  salvation.  How  can  I  forget  that  season  when  my  soul  was  flooded 
with  heavenly  light,  and  the  cleansing  blood  was  so  sweetly  felt  to  wash 
away  all  my  sins  ! 

"  But  I  confidently  expect  this  meeting  will  exceed  Manheim.  We  are 
expecting  the  greatest  displays  of  divine  power  we  have  ever  known.  We 
are  expecting  that  sinners  shall  be  brought  to  God  by  scores,  by  hundreds, 
by  thousands. 

"Again  we  extend  to  you,  gentlemen  of  the  National  Association,  a  cordial, 
heartfelt  welcome."      [Deep  sensation  all  around] 

ADDRESS    OP    REV.    C.    I.    THOMPSON. 

Rev.  C.  I.  Thompson,  President  of  the  Landisville  Camp-meeting  Associ- 
ation, followed  the  Presiding  Elder  in  an  address  of  welcome,  saying  : — 

"  Twelve  months  ago,  at  a  meeting  on  this  ground,  it  was  proposed  in  the 
Board  of  Control  of  the  Landisville  Camp  meeting  Association,  to  extend  an 
invitation  to  the  National  Camp-meeting  Association  to  hold  a  meeting 
during  the  season  of  1873,  at  this  place.  This  proposal  was  unanimously 
accepted.  A  dispatch  was  sent  to  Brother  Inskip  to  visit  the  grounds,  but 
the  dispatch,  it  appears,  did  not  reach  him. 


24  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

"The  President  of  this  Association  was  then  instructed  to  write  and  com- 
municate the  wishes  of  our  Association. 

"At  the  fall  meeting  of  the  National  Association,  it  was  determined  to 
accept  our  invitation,  and  through  Eev.  Gr.  Hughes,  Secretary  of  the  National 
Association,  we  were  formally  notified  of  the  fact. 

"The  reason  of  the  Landisville  Association  in  addressing  the  National,  was 
the  hope  that  through  the  inflaence  of  the  latter,  a  higher  Christian  influ- 
ence might  be  exerted  on  the  surrounding  churches,  as  well  as  on  all  who 
might  attend  the  meeting. 

"  We  are  here  to  day,  and  everything  is  favorable,  thank  God  !  We  have 
passed  through  all  our  secularities  pleasantly.  Everything  augurs  good  for 
the  church ;  our  hand  and  heart  is  most  cordially  extended  to  you,  and  we 
pray  and  hope  that  your  largest  expectations  may  be  more  than  realized. 

''  Only  five  years  ago  we  first  raised  our  banners  in  this  community — at 
our  first  meeting  we  had  one  hundred  tents.  Next  year  we  invited  you  to 
Manheim.  We  had  such  a  meeting  that  its  influence  extended  all  through 
the  surrounding  country.  I  talked  with  a  gentleman  on  the  ground  during 
that  remarkable  meeting,  which  you  so  well  remember.  He  said  his  soul 
was  never  so  filled  with  awe.  He  had  sensations  that  day  such  as  he  had 
never  realized  but  once  before,  and  that  was  when,  under  the  magnificent 
grandeur  of  the  Yo  Semite  valley,  amid  its  sublime  scenery,  he  felt  like 
bowing  down  to  the  earth  in  humility  before  a  present  Grod.  0  that  the 
wdrk  here  may  far  exceed,  in  the  display  of  God's  power,  and  in  results,  that 
of  its  predecessor  I 

"We  bid  you  God  speed  in  this  good  work,  and  extend  a  most  hearty  wel- 
come to  you,  Brother  Inskip,  and  brethren  of  the  National  Camp-meeting 
Association." 

Again  the  congregation  responded  in  terms  of  intense  satisfaction. 

THE    SCRIPTURE    LESSON, 

consisting  of  Isaiah  xxxv,  was  then  read  by  Rev.  Wm.  McDonald — com- 
mencing, "The  wilderness  and  the  solitary  place  shall  be  glad  for  them,  and 
the  desert  shall  rejoice  and  blossom  as  the  rose."  After  which  was  sung  the 
hymn — 

"I  am  trusting,  Lord,  in  thee." 

ADDRESS   OF   REV.  J     S.    INSKIP. 
V 
llev.  J.   S.   Inskip,  apparently  much  affected   by  the   hearty  and   earnest 

greetings  which  had  been  extended,  rose  and  said : — 

"  If  we  do  not  have  the  best  meeting  here  that  we  have  ever  held  as  yet, 

it  will  not  be  because  we  have  not  had  the  best  beginning  that  we  have  ever 

had.     In  no  case  have  the  conditions  surrounding  us  been  so  good ;  we  have 

never  met  in  a  more  beautiful  grove;  and  what  is  most  interesting  of  all, 


A    MODERN   PENTECOST.  25 

our  welcome  has  been  the  heartiest  we  have  ever  had.  We  respond  with 
hearts  full  of  emotion  to  the  Presiding  Elder  and  to  the  President  of  the 
Local  Association.  I  will  say  to  them  that  we  are  here  to.  do  all  we  can  to 
bring  about  the  conversion  and  upbuilding  and  entire  sanctifiation  of  souls, 

"  I  do  not  expect  to  get  through  this  meeting  without  making  mistakes ; 
the  best  make  mistakes,  and  I  shall  do  so,  I  have  no  doubt ;  but  I  will  tell 
you  what  I  mean  to  do ;  I  mean  to  cover  all  mistakes  with  the  blood  before 
they  come.  We  do  not  expect  to  please  everybody  with  whom  we  come  in 
contact;  you  have  invited  us  to  conduct  this  meeting,  and  we  intend  to  do  it 
in  our  own  way,  because  we  believe  it  is  the  best  way  for  us.  This  much 
by  way  of  preliminary. 

"  I  wish  to  offer  a  few  practical  suggestions  Ordinary  success  at  this 
meeting  would  not  suit  our  ideas.  A  repetition  of  other  meetings  would  not 
meet  my  demands.  Manheim  was  great,  but  Landisville  must  be  greater. 
I  know  that  there  are  five  hundred  Christian  hearts  here,  that  break  forth 
in  a  hearty  "Amen."  The  spirits  of  the  departed  looking  down  from  the 
battlements  of  heaven,  say,  "  Amen."  Lord  God,  make  Landisville  the 
greatest  meeting  that  has  ever  been  known !  [Shouts  of  "■  Amen."] 

"  I  want  to  guard  you  against  expecting  victory  because  you  have  had  a 
triumph  heretofore. 

"This  is  the  IGth  National  Camp  meeting,  but  I  have  no  confidence  in 
success  here  because  God  has  owned  us  all  through  our  work.  Nothing 
inspires  me  with  confidence  in  success  here  except  faith  in  God.  Do  not 
permit  yourselves  to  be  deceived ;  the  devil  does  not  intend  to  let  us  have 
success  here  any  more  than  at  Manheim.  How  well  we  remember  the  con- 
ditions that  surrounded  us  there  !  The  air  itself  seemed  to  be  hot,  as  if 
intended  to  parch  up  and  destroy  even  our  power  of  utterance.  You  re- 
member how  it  continued,  until,  in  the  midst  of  prayer,  when  a  few  of  us  had 
met  in  the  Association's  business  tent,  God  sent  deliverence.  We  gained 
the  fight  on  our  knees. 

"  Satan  intends  to  intrench  himself  here,  and  we  intend  to  rout  him  in 
God's  name,  with  God's  help,  and  by  God's  blessing. 

"  Now  this  is  the  work  before  us  ;  and  I  want  to  know,  first  of  all,  who  will 
consecrate  himself  here,  so  that  for  the  next  ten  days  he  will  labor  in  every 
proper  way,  and  devote  himself  to  this  holy  work.  I  know  that  you  have 
heretofore  consecrated  yourselves  to  be  wholly  the  Lord's,  and  that  he  has 
blessed,  and  owned,  and  washed  you  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb. 

"  At  Manheim  he  sanctified  some  of  you ;  at  Vineland,  and — but  at  this 
place,  here,  now,  this  moment,  for  this  work,  the  occasion,  circumstances,  and 
success  of  our  meeting  demand  the  unequivocal  consecration  of  our  hearts  to 
God.     Let  everybody  consider  that  he  came  here  to  get  every  sinner  con- 


26  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

verted.  Let  the  influence  of  the  blessed  Holy  Spirit  so  rest  on  your  conse- 
crated hearts  that  it  will  seem  as  if  this  whole  inclosure  was  surrounded  by 
a  wall  of  fire,  so  *hat  when  the  sinner  enters  our  gates  he  may  feel  that  he 
is  standing  on  holy  ground.  I  believe  that  God  will  save  sinners  here.  I 
cannot  adjust  the  theology  of  the  matter,  in  regard  to  forefate,  or  free  will, 
but  he  says :  "  If  ye  shall  ask  anything  in  my  name,  I  will  do  it."  0, 
blessed  Lord,  I  ask  in  thy  name,  that  sinners  by  scores  and  hundreds,  yea 
thousands,  may  be  converted  through  the  influence  of  this  meeting. 

"  Do  you  believe  God  is  able  to  do  this  ?  or  do  you  fall  back  on  contin- 
gencies ? 

"  Believe  God.  Let  there  be  no  failure  of  our  faith.  As  the  Lord  liveth 
if  a  thousand  sinners  are  not  converted,  it  will  not  be  because  of  my  want  of 
faith.     Lord,  let  it  be  according  to  thy  word. 

"  Get  the  world  fenced  out  of  this  enclosure.  What  do  you  say  ?  Have 
you  come  here  for  a  pleasant,  social  time  ?  If  so,  I  hope  the  place  will 
become  too  hot  for  you.  I  advise  you  to  move  out  by  moonlight,  unless  you 
go  in  with  us  for  a  grand,  mighty,  overwhelming  time  of  God's  power. 

"How  say  you,  can  this  be  done  ?  Readily,  and  we  can  win  the  fight  here 
to-night.  We  can  do  more  to-night  than  at  any  time,  or  all  the  time  of  the 
meeting.  We  are  to  gain  the  victory  to-night.  We  are  to  win  it  now,  with 
God's  help. 

"  I  feel  like  getting  down  to  the  substratum  of  this  matter.  I  like  to  go 
over  the  thing  once  in  a  while. 

"  Some  speak  of  leaving  the  cross  and  blood  behind.*  I  shall  do  no  such 
thing.  I  feel  like  asking  you  to  pray  for  me  that  I  may  get  in  deeper.  You 
are  all  in  sympathy  with  this  movement.  [Cries  of  "  yes,  yes,  we  are."]  If 
you  are  a  preacher,  I  want  you  to  get  sanctified  to  night,  that  you  may  help 
others  to-morrow  and  next  day.  0  brothers,  this  is  the  way  to  help  on  the 
meeting. 

"  If  I  were  to  propound  doctrine,  you  might  not  agree  with  me ;  but  get  the 
Holy  Spirit,  get  the  experience,  and  we  will  have  no  controversy.  We  have 
been  blamed  for  making  this  a  specialty ;  but  with  God's  help,  we  will  make 
it  more  so  than  ever.  [Amen.]  We  off"er  no  apology  to  do  that  for  which  you 
have  distinctly  invited  us  here. 

"  This  is  not  an  ordinary  camp-meeting.  Depend  upon  it,  there  is  one  man 
here  who  will  do  all  he  can  to  make  this  a  successful  meeting.  All  can  do 
something.  Keep  up  family  prayer  in  your  tent  or  cottage ;  read  your 
Bible,  especially  the  Epistle  to  the  Ephesians,  and  the  sixteenth  and  seven- 
teenth chapters  of  John's  Gospel.  This  will  help  you  individually,  and 
help  to  make  the  occasion  a  success.  Keep  up  private  devotion.  At  the 
hour  of  one    p.  M.,  when  the  bell  rings,  let  every  tent  be  closed.     If  you  are 

*  Referring  to  some  teachings  at  the  late  Union  Holiness  Convention  at  Ocean  Grove? 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  27 

out  anywhere,  keel  down  and  talk  alone  with  God.  Let  this  camp  ground 
be  as  silent  as  a  sea  of  glass,  and  it  will  be  perfectly  awful  to  the  careless 
ones  who  may  be  sauntering  about.  0  that  Grod  will  help  us  in  this  !  It  is 
not  a  difficult  thing  to  do.  The  sisters  can  stop  a  momeat,  if  washing  dishes, 
or  engaged  at  anything  else,  and  if  you  have  visitors,  get  down  on  your 
knees,  and  they  will  begin  to  inquire,  '  AVhat  means  this?'  Try  it  on,  and 
see  what  the  Lord  will  do  for  us.  Every  man  and  woman  may  pray  at  that 
hour,  and  if  you  do,  this  camp  will  be  a  centre  of  interest.  Sinners,  seeing 
a  few  hundred  godly  men  and  women  on  their  knees,  saying  nothing  to  any 
one  but  God,  and  your  children,  too,  will  be  constrained  to  cry,  '  What  shall 
we  do  ? '  0,  my  God,  let  this  be  a  Pentecost !  Will  you  try  to  do  it  ?  If 
you  will,  give  me  a  token.     Now  raise  your  hand. 

[Hundreds  of  hands  uplifted.]  "  Now  mark,  when  the  bell  gives  the  signal, 
you  promise  that  you  will  get  down  wherever  you  are.  Would  God  we 
Protestants  would  excel  the  Roman  Catholics  in  devotion.  They  will  kneel 
on  a  public  street.  Let  us  be  more  bold,  and  richer  blessings  will  flow  into 
our  hearts. 

"I  would  not  have  any  of  you  worn  out  by  ceaseless  service,  but  go  to  as 
many  as  you  can ;  don't  dissipate  thought  in  your  tents ;  be  steady,  serious, 
and  true  to  this  great  principle. 

"Now,  friends,  we  are  in  for  a  fearful,  a  terrible  contest  for  success  and 
salvation. 

"  I'd  advise  you  to  take  as  little  of  this  world  along  with  you  as  possible. 
Strip  for  the  race.  Don't  get  into  debate,  or  feel  yourself  called  upon  to 
argue.  Keep  telling  your  experience — '  The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  cleanseth 
us  from  all  sin.'  Some  may  get  tired  of  hearing  it,  if  they  don't  get  in 
themselves.  They  will  try  to  decoy  you  into  controversy;  but,  remember, 
all  arguing  is  to  be  done  at  the  stand.  We  come  here  not  so  much  to  argue 
as  to  assert,  demonstrate,  proclaim,  and  announce  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus. 

"  No  doubt  we  shall  argue  a  little,  but  you  will  be  deceived  if  you  have 
come  to  hear  us  attempt  to  settle  people's  quibbles.  We  are  to  hold  up  the 
banner  of  full  salvation,  and  go  down  into  the  pool  to  be  washed  and  made 
every  whit  whole. 

'This  is  not  fair,'  you  say.  Yes,  it  is  fair.  You  get  this  blessing  and 
we'll  take  your  creed,  whatever  it  may  be;  that  is,  we  will  then  find  that 
there  is  very  little  difference  between  us. 

""  This  experience  wonderfully  consolidates  all  differences.  Then  tell  the 
story!  keep  telling  it.  The  matter  has  been  discussed  in  some  quarters  until 
men  get  to  the  point  of  discussing  with  the  'dis'  left  off!  'The  blood 
cleanseth!'  Let  this  be  repeated  a  thousand  times  a  day,  and  they  will 
believe  it,  if  we  keep  on.     Good  Lord,  help  us  to  overcome  'by  the  blood  of 


28  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

the  Lamb  and  the  word  of  our  testimony.'  But  you  doubt  tbis.  "We  don't. 
Bless  Grod,  we  know  it  is  true.  Tbis  is  tbe  bappy  way  to  win  tbe  figbt.  Any 
of  us  can  be  tripped  up  if  we  go  into  tbe  speculative  questions.  Let  us  keep 
to  tbe  fundamental  idea.  Tbey  may  say  we  are  people  of  '  one  idea.'  So 
we  are,  but  it  is  a  migbty  big  one.  Qood  Lord,  belp  us.  I  want  now  to  go 
down  bere  and  wait  for  tbe  Holy  Grbost  to  come  upon  me.  Do  you  tbink  tbe 
Lord  is  able  and  willing  to  bless  us  now?  Let  us  prove  bim.  Get  down, 
brethren,  all  of  us.     I  will ;  will  you  ?" 

Following  tbe  leader,  all  tbe  ministers  present  left  the  stand  and  knelt  at 
tbe  altar  of  prayer.  Tbe  people  crowded  in,  and  soon  hundreds  were  prostrate 
before  God,  pleading  tbe  promise,  and  believing  for  the  power. 

Tbe  sublime  scene  was  intensified  by  a  suggestion  from  Mr.  Inskip  saying, 
"  Now,  pray  for  the  ministers  bere."  After  a  short  time  he  replied,  "  I  feel 
your  prayers;  I  feel  your  prayers.  Now,  let  us  ministers  in  turn  pray  for 
the  people."  There  was  another  pause,  improved  by  silent  prayer,  after 
which  was  sung 

"  Take  my  poor  heart  and  let  be 
Forever  closed  to  all  but  thee,"  &c. 

With  deep  feeling  brother  Inskip  said,  "  One  more  verse;  one  more  verse;" 
and  in  softly  subdued  tones  were  sung  the  words: — 

"  Here  at  the  cross  where  flows  the  blood,"  &c. 

At  tbe  close  of  the  singing.  Dr.  Lowry  led  in  prayer,  and  tbe  people  took 
bold  in  faith;  souls  were  filled  unutterably;  but  quiet  was  obtained.  "Just 
wait  here,"  said  brother  Inskip;  "wait,  the  Lord  is  going  to  save  tbe  people. 
Whisper  it  all  around  to  one  another — 'Jesus  saves  me  now.'  Tell  it  all 
over  tbe  ground.  Separating  bere  for  the  night,  let  this  be  our  salutation. 
Keep  it  in  mind — '  Jesus  saves  me.' " 

Notices  were  then  given  of  tbe  daily  order  of  services,  beginning  at  five 
A.  M.  on  Thursday  morning,  and  with  a  hearty  doxology  tbe  congregation 
retired  to  their  tents,  shaking  bands  and  saying,  "  Jesus  saves  me." 

We  append  the  arrangement  for  each  day's  service  : — 

Five  o'clock  A.  M.,  consecration  meeting. 

Half-past  six  o'clock  A.  M.,  fixmily  prayer  and  breakfast. 

Eight  o'clock  A.  M.,  general  love-feast  with  an  invitation  to  seekers  of  heart 
purity. 

Ten  A.  M.,  sermon  at  the  main  stand.  (No  other  exercises  allowed  during 
public  preaching.) 

]Ialf  past  twelve  o'clock  P.  M.,  dinner. 

Half-past  one  P.  M.,  bell  tap  for  private  prayer.  Tent  curtains  to  be  closed, 
and  all  conversation  bushed. 

Half-past  one  P.  M.,  children's  church,  tent  meetings  and  social  exercises. 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  29 

At  this  hour  each  day  the  National  Committee  meet  for  counsel,  prayer  and 
making  appointments. 

Half-past  two  o'clock  P.  M.,  sermon,  followed  by  exhortation,  prayer,  and 
experience.     At  five,  social  meetings  may  be  started. 

Half-past  five  o'clock  P.  M.,  supper  hour,  followed  by  experience  meetings 
in  tents  and  cottages  until  evening  service. 

Half  past  seven  o'clock  P.  M.,  until  ten  P.  M.,  preaching  and  altar  work, 
which  must  cease  at  the  moment  the  bell  rings  for  retiring. 


A  PENCIL  SKETCH  OF  THE  SUNRISE  SERVICES. 


In  the  devotion  of  every  hour,  and  almost  of  every  moment  daring  each 
succeeding  day  of  a  National  Camp  Meeting,  to  active  religious  exercises,  a 
decided  advantage  is  gained  and  the  largest  possible  results  secured.  There 
is  no  time  allowed  for  either  a  lazy  siesta  or  the  vapid  tattle  of  unoccupied 
loungers  in  tents  or  shady  spots  where  social  pleasantries  undo  all  the  serious 
impressions  which  song  and  sermon  may  have  produced.  From  the  hour  of 
sunrise  until  10  P.  M.  the  camp  presents  a  busy  scene. 

"With  us  no  melanclioly  void, 
No  moment  lingers  unemployed. 
Or  unimproved  below." 

The  management  is  a  despotism,.  Everybody  and  everything  must  bow  to 
the  control  of  one  master  mind.  That  mind,  imbued  by  a  fervor  extraordi- 
nary and  guided  by  supernatural  wisdom  and  power,  holds  the  congregation 
in  a  steady,  unrelaxing  grasp.  To  rebel,  in  any  case,  is  to  mar  the  grand 
end  in  view  so  far  as  it  relates  to  the  individual  and  universal  good  to  be 
attained. 

In  this  chapter  we  merely  touch  the  first  service  of  the  day.  The  bell  is 
vigorously  rung  at  15  minutes  before  5  A.  M.  If  the  weary  night  watch- 
man, about  that  hour,  is  not  on  the  alert,  a  member  of  the  National  Associ- 
ation may  be  seen  issuing  fr.om  his  tent  and  hurrying  towards  the  bell-rope. 
Another,  after  a  hasty  toilet  and  just  from  his  knees  before  God,  takes  his 
way  toward  the  Tabernacle.  He  was  designated  the  previous  day  to  take 
charge  of  the  early  service.  From  all  parts  of  the  camp  may  be  seen  hur- 
rying toward  the  same  destination,  camp-chair  in  hand  and  sleep  hardly  out 
of  their  eyes,  men  and  women,  whose  desire  for  spiritual  enlightment 
overmasters  all  other  considerations.  A  few  are  already  there  on  their 
knees,  having  had  no  chance  for  private  prayer  in  the  crowded  company 
tents;  others  are  reading  out  of  pocket  Bibles,  or  Testaments,  "the  words  of 
^his  life." 


30  SIXTEENTH   NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

The  leader,  reaching  his  place,  starts  a  hymn — "  0  for  a  thousand  tongues," 
&c.,  or  "  A  charge  to  keep  I  have,"  or  some  other  with  which  all  are  sup- 
posed to  be  familiar,  and  the  melody  rising,  reaches  many  ears  in  distant 
parts  of  the  ground.  Before  the  song  is  ended  the  assembly  has  assumed 
pretty  fair  proportion, s  and  increases  in  numbers  every  moment. 

"  Now  we  will  spend  ten  minutes  in  prayer,"  suggests  the  leader.  "  Leave 
out  all  but  the  personal  pronouns.  Confine  your  range  to  the  present  day, 
hour,  moment,  me.     Lord,  bless  me." 

One  minute  will  suffice  for  a  brother  to  say,  "  0  Lord,  fill  me  with  Thy 
holy  presence  this  morning,  and  create  within  me  a  clean  heart,  for  Jesus' 
sake.  Amen."  Another  will  break  forth  in  joyous  acknowledgement  of 
peace  or  power  received  the  day  or  evening  previous.  A  third  cries,  "  0 
Jesus,  my  Saviour,  make  me  every  whit  whole !"  Often  two  or  three  start 
simultaneously,  and  the  preachers,  who  begin  to  drop  in,  join  in  brief  peti- 
tions. The  tide  of  earnestness  and  confidence  grows  apace.  The  sun  bursts 
forth  and  transfigures  the  kneeling  company,  until,  with  a  happy  song,  the 
scene  changes  and  "  a  word  of  exhortation  "  is  given  to  guide  the  further 
devotions.  '-It  will  help  us  to  ascertain  how  many  here  are  clear  in  their 
experience  of  a  heart  purified  by  the  blood  of  Christ.  Let  all  such  sta.nd 
tip  for  a  moment." 

This  "  standing  up  a  moment  "  is  of  itself,  to  some  who  obey  the  sugges- 
tion without  carping  or  questioning  the  brother's  right  to  handle  them  in 
that  manner,  a  means  of  grace,  an  exercise  of  faith  and  an  increase  of  joy 
and  victory.  "Now  let  us  see  who  are  earnestly  seeking  this  blessing.  If 
you  want  to  be  fully  saved  now,  listen  to  the  Divine  word  :  '  I  have  heard 
thee  in  a  time  accepted,  and  in  the  day  of  salvation  have  I  succored  thee. 
Now  is  the  accepted  time;  behold,  now  is  the  day  of  salvation.'  All  who 
want  it  in  God's  way  and  time,  now  rise  up." 

To  see  twenty,  thirty,  or  fifty  persons,  old  and  young,  preachers,  official 
members,  mothers,  young  men  and  maidens  rise,  and  note  the  earnestness  of 
their  looks,  the  tears  filling  some  eyes,  and  the  transition  from  doubt  and 
unrest  to  sweet  peace,  for  this  often  occurs  in  the  very  movement,  makes  a 
profound  impression  on  all.  Conviction  widens  out  among  those  hitherto 
reluctant  to  take  any  advanced  step.  Seekers  bow  at  the  altar,  and  again 
prayer  is  made,  those  pleading  for  a  clean  heart  being  urged  to  utter  their 
petitions  audibly. 

■   The   speaking   then    commences   with   those  just   blessed,  extending   to 
others,  and  the  kindled  fire  catches  all  around. 

By  this  time  the  stand  is  full  and  the  large  tent  crowded.  A  bell  is 
heard,  the  signal  for  breakfast;  but  unheeded  for  half  an  hour  more  in  this 
communion  of  saints.     Their  unrestrained  exclamations  of  praise  fill  the 


A    MODERN   PENTECOST.  31 

camp  as  they  continue  to  speak  one  to  another.  Thus  every  day,  of  eight 
or  more,  successively  begins,  and  souls  thoroughly  interested  in  their  own 
and  others'  salvation  are  constantly  reminded  of  the  psalmist's  exclamation, 
"  It  is  a  good  thing  to  give  thanks  unto  the  Lord,  and  to  sing  praises  unto 
Thy  name,  0  Most  High  :  To  show  forth  Thy  loving  kindness  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  Thy  faithfulness  every  night."  And  again,  "  My  heart  is  fixed,  0 
God,  my  heart  is  fixed  ;  I  will  sing  and  give  praise.  Awake  up,  my  glory  ; 
awake  psaltery  and  harp ;  I  myself  will  awake  early." 

To  facilitate  the  early  awakening  and  a  good  start  in  "  holy  duties  "  the 
rule  is  absolute,  requiring  all  exercises  to  be  suspended  and  perfect  quiet  to 
reign  in  the  camp  after  ten  o'clock  at  night.  It  needs  repeated  admonitions 
and  exhortations  from  Mr.  Inskip  to  convince  the  people  of  the  propriety 
and  necessity  of  sound  sleep,  and  enough  of  it,  for  health  and  vigor.  If 
excited  companies  retire  to  their  tents  and  begin  to  pray  and  sing,  as  they 
are  generally  prompted  to  do,  until  half-a-dozen  are  so  blessed  that  they 
must  shout,  an  officer  is  detailed  to  stop  the  untimely  disturbance,  or  the 
stentorian  command  rings  out  from  the  President,  who,  instead  of  retiring 
himself,  makes  a  patrol  of  the  grounds  to  see  that  others  are  enabled  to 
rest.  "Stop  that  noise  I ;  hold  in  until  morning;  this  is  the  hour  for 
repose  ;  we  must  have  quiet  here,  or  we  cannot  sleep  !"  These  tones  sonor- 
ously reverberate  through  the  entire  grove,  and  silence  most  profound 
ensues.  "  God  bless  brother  Inskip,"  is  the  hearty  utterance  of  tired,  ner- 
vous people,  who  have  been  kept  awake  by  noisy  neighbors.  A  good  night's 
rest,  therefore,  is  the  preparation  for  a  joyful  morning  meeting ;  and  the 
general  sanitary  regulations  insisted  upon  during  the  continuance  of  the 
camp  conduce  very  largely  to  bodily  health,  mental  regularity,  and  above  all, 
clearness  of  spiritual  perception  and  fullness  of  religious  peace. 

These  meetings,  arbitrary  as  are  their  rules,  have  become  models  of  man- 
agement, good  order,  and  the  highest  social  privilege.  But  obstinate,  nar- 
row-minded men  find  them  too  exacting,  and  should  either  stay  away  or 
yield  at  once,  and  move  with  the  mighty  current  as  it  flows  onward  from  day 
to  day,  until,  in  personal  peace  with  God  and  all  mankind,  they  are  enabled  to 
acquiese  joyfully  in  every  measure  that  contemplates  the  helping  of  souls  nearer 
to  Jesus,  and  from  the  barren  heath  of  verbal  criticism  they  come  into  posses- 
sion of  the  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  love  of  God  and  the  commun- 
ion of  the  Holy  Ghost. 


32  SIXTEKNTU    NATIONAL    CAMP-MEETING. 

SECOND  DAY. 

THURSDAY,  JULY    24.  1873. 

OUTLINE  SKETCH  OF    THE  MORNING  SERVICES. 

At  5  o'clock  A.  M.  the  battle  for  the  Lord  was  renewed  on  this  ground 
consecrated  afresh  by  the  deeply  interesting  services  of  last  evening.  Every 
one  of  the  Lord's  hosts  seemed  to  come  forth  confident  of  victory.  Hence, 
at  this  early  hour,  hundreds  were  soon  hearkening  to  the  voice  of  their 
leader,  joining  him  in  singing  what  might  well  be  called  the  Christian's 
morning  hymn- call  to  duty  and  privilege  : 

"  Arise,  my  soul  arise, 

Shake  off  tliy  guilty  fears, 
The  Weeding  sacrifice 

In  my  behalf  appears." 

With  the  chorus  : 

"  Jesus  paid  it  all, 

All  to  Ilim  I  owe  ; 
Sin  hath  left  a  crimsnu  stain — 

He  washed  me  while  as  snow." 

After  the  prayer  by  Rev.  John  Thompson,  others  quickly  followed  in 
strains  of  pleading  earnestness,  imploring  to  be  emptied  of  self  and  then 
filled  with  divine  fullness ;  to  be  made  willing  to  be  used  anywhere  and  any- 
how for  Jesus ;  to  have  the  power  to  wait  for  the  baptism ;  to  understand 
that  the  short  way  to  Jesus  is  down  through  the  valley,  and  there  to  realize 
as  never  before  that  the  blood  of  Christ  washes  us  from  all  sin  ! 

When  their  searching  prayers  were  ended,  the  congregation  sung  : 

"  Break  off  the  yoke  of  inbred  sin,"  &c. 

A  brother  said,  "  I  can't  have  fall  rest  till  I  am  cleansed." 
Leader — "  Sing  that  verse  over  again." 

"  Break  off  the  yoke,"  &c. 

Then  followed  the  testimonies  and  confessions  of  preachers  and  laity  in 
such  rapid  succession  that  no  moment  was  lost.  These  experiences  were 
almost  entirely  comprised  in  confession  of  the  cleansing  power  of  Jesus' 
blood,  the  testimony  being  clear  and  unequivocal  as  to  the  conscioas  knowl- 
edge of  the  sanctification  of  the  soul  from  all  sin.  During  the  meeting  the 
enthusiasm  rose  to  such  a  height  as  to  call  forth  utterances  of  burning  elo- 
quence and  thrilling  power.  One,  testifying,  said,  "  I  want  the  Lord  Jesus 
to  glorify  himself  in  me.  If  God  choose  to  put  me  in  the  dust  and  to  keep 
me  there,  I  will  say,  Lord  Jesus   glorify  thyself"     Another,  "  I  feel  great 


A    MODERN    PENTECOST.  33 

anxiety  for  this  meeting.  I  want  it  to  be  the  best  meeting  that  was  ever 
held  on  this  continent;  not  for  myself  or  the  National  Association,  but  for 
the  glory  of   God."  ♦ 

PRAYER    MEETING  AT  8  o'CLOCK  A.  M. 

This  meeting,  like  the  one  above  alluded  to,  was  held  in  front  of  the 
public  stand.  It  was  in  charge  of  the  President  of  the  Association.  There 
was  a  degree  of  originality  in  the  method  of  conducting  it  which  shows  the 
great  anxiety  of  those  in  the  management  of  these  exercises  not  to  have 
them  degenerate  into  a  mere  form.  Brother  Inskip  arose  and  said,  when 
about  to  open  the  meeting,  "  Any  one  of  you  having  a  word  from  the  Lord, 
give  it  to  us.  It  may  be  a  precious  word ;  some  message  sent  from  God  to 
guide  us.  I  have  this  word  now  coming  into  my  soul  :  '  If  ye  ask  anything 
in  my  name  I  will  do  it  for  you.'"  A  brother  in  the  congregation — "  I  have 
this:  'Come  unto  me  and  I  will  give  you  test.' "  A  sister — "  Abide  in 
me  and  I  in  you  ;  if  ye  abide  in  me  and  my  words  abide  in  you,  ye  shall 
ask  what  ye  will  and  it  shall  be  done  unto  you."  Rev.  Mr.  Foote:  "  And 
this  is  the  confidence  we  have  in  him,  that  if  we  ask  anything  according 
to  his  will,  he  heareth  us." 

Brother  Inskip — "  Brother  Foote,  where  is  that  ?  Will  some  one  please 
find  it  ?"  A  young  brother,  standing  up,  read  it,  to  the  comfort  of  many 
hearts. 

Other  passages  of  Scripture  were  quoted  promptly  and  clearly,  occupying 
sevei-al  minittes,  when  brother  Inskip  said,  *'  I  propose  that  we  go  before 
God,  taking  any  one  of  these  promises  on  which  to  make  our  plea,  but 
believing  them  all.  But  first  let  us  put  our  prayer  into  a  hymn. 
Singing  : 

"0  for  a  heart  to  praise  my  God, 
A  Iieart  from  sio  set  free  ; 
A  lieart  that  always  feels  thy  blood 
So  freely  spilt  for  me." 

"Let  US  sing  another  verse." 

"Refining  fire,  go  through  my  heart,"  &c. 

Brother  Inskip — "  Now  I  want  to  know  how  many  of  you  are  here  whom 
the  Lord  has  wholly  sanctified.  Whoever  you  are,  hold  up  your  hand. 
(Many  hands  raised.)  There  are  some  here  that  want  this  perfect  cleansing. 
Hold  up  your  hands.  (Several  hands  upraised.)  Now  let  us  have  this 
altar  clear.  Let  all  who  want  the  blessing,  come.  Let  those  who  want  a 
special  consecration  for  the  work  now  before  us,  come.  Now  I  see  but  two 
classes  before  me :  those  who  want  to  be  washed  in  the  blood  and  cleansed 
from  every  sin,  and  those  who  want  the  power  to  do  work  for  Jesus  as  they 
have  never  done  it  before.  And  now,  brethren,  I  want  a  new  order  of 
prayer.  I  am  not  particular  about  any  one's  leading  in  prayer ;  but  if  any 
o 


34  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL    CAMP-MEETING. 

of  you  feel  like  praying,  don't  use  the  '  you  '  and  '  our  '  and  '  us ;'  but  use 


me 


the  first  personal  pronoun  '  I '  and  '  me.'     Lord  bless  me, 

After  spending  a  few  interesting  moments  in  personal  prayer,  a  brother 
said,  "  Jesus  taught  us  how  to  pray  at  the  grave  of  Lazarus." 

Brother  Inskip — "  Let  us  have  it,  brother." 

"  And  Jesus  lifted  up  his  eyes  and  said,  '  Father,  I  thank  Thee  that  Thou 
hast  heard  me.  And  I  know  that  Thou  hearest  me  always  ;  but  because  of 
the  people  which  stand  by  I  said  it,  that  they  may  believe  that  Thou  hast 
sent  me.'  And  when  he  had  thus  spoken  he  cried  with  a  loud  voice,  '  Laz- 
arus, come  forth.'  " 

Several  voices — "  That's  it ;   0  glory  !"     Singing  on  their  knees  : 

"  I  am  coining  Lord,  coming  now  to  Thee, 
Wash  me,  cleanse  me  in  Thy  blood, 
That  flowed  on  Calvary." 

Brother  Inskip — "  It  seemsl|hat  there  is  a  voice  in  my  soul  saying :  '  Tell 
the  people  to  wait,  to  wait ;  tell  them  to  get  down  very  low  ;  to  go  down  to 
the  foundation  rock,  for  the  stream  is  coming  over  us.'  "  Amid  shouts,  the 
song  is  sung:  "0,  the  blood,"  &c.  "  Now  pause  a  moment  and  reflect ;  close 
your  eyes,  let  everybody  else  alone,  just  think  about  the  blood,  the  blood 
that  cleanseth." 

After  several  minutes  of  solemn  stillness,  the  song,  "  0,  the  blood,"  was 
repeated,  which  being  sung,  was  followed  by  the  experience  of  several^ 
among  whom  Rev.  Dr.  Nast,  author  of  "  Nast's  Commentary,"  made  an 
interesting  statement : 

"  I  bless  the  Lord  that  I  have  come  here ;  I  look  upon  these  scenes  with 
thrilling  Joy.  More  than  thirty  years  ago  I  was  in  this  part  of  the  country 
living  near  this  spot.  And  0,  what  the  Lord  has  done  for  mc  !  I  am  dead 
to  sin.  I  am  crucified  with  Christ  I  am  saved  through  the  blood  of  the 
Lamb.  I  am  glad  to  come  here  to  tell  it.  I  want  to  tell  it  to  my  German 
brethren  who  know  me  here.     Glory  be  to  God !" 

At  the  conclusion  of  these  exercises,  the  bell  announced  the  hour  of  pub- 
lic preaching,  and  soon  the  increasingly  large  audience  were  seated  under  the 
magnificent  forest  trees  to  hear  the  word  of  the  Lord. 

The  preacher  was  a  tall,  plain,  devout  man  of  four  score  years,  who  for 
more  than  half  that  period  has  been  an  advocate  of  personal  holiness.  His 
manner  of  preaching  is  marked  by  very  frequent  wanderings — from  his  text, 
to  the  consciences  of  his  hearers.  He  is  noted  for  terseness,  and  an  exhaust- 
less  fund  of  anecdote,  which  he  uses  torcbukesin,  satirize  the  fashions  of  a 
godless  world,  and  illustrate  the  short  way  of  salvation  by  simple,  present 
faith.     lie  is  widely  known  and  loved  as  "  Father  Coleman." 


A    MODERN    PENTECOST.  35 

SERMON  BY  REV.  S.  COLEMAN,  OF  WILLIAMSPORT,  PA. 

THURSDAY,  10  A.  M. 

"  Elect  according  to  the  foreknowledije  of  God  the  Father  through  sanctijica- 
tlon  of  the  Spirit,  unto  obedience  and  sprinkling  of  the  blood  of  Jesus 
Christ:'—!  Peter  1,  2. 

This  address  of  the  apostle  Peter  was  made  to  tlie  strangers  who  dwelt  ia 
Pontus,  Galatia,  and  other  places.  He  addressed  a  people  that  were  scattered 
abroad  because  of  the  persecutions  of  the  day ;  they  were  in  the  midst  of  great 
distress,  hiding  in  the  dens  and  caves  of  the  earth,  hunted  like  wild  beasts  of 
the  forest ;  but  they  were  the  children  of  God.  I  thought,  perhaps,  we  would 
need  such  an  address  to  us  this  morning,  for  though  we  are  not  persecuted  in 
the  same  way,  perhaps,  yet  we  have  our  fiery  persecutors  around  us. 

Now  we  have  set  before  us  the  amazing  plan  of  God  to  save  the  world. 
They  are  elect  according  to  the  foreknowledge  of  God  through  the  sanctification 
of  the  Spirit.  We  have  here  a  reference  to  the  condition  of  man  towards  God, 
ruined  hy  sin,  and  gone  far  away  from  him;  and  of  God  towards  man,  who, 
looking  upon  him  in  his  wretched  and  perishing  condition,  moved  towards  him 
in  love  and  mercy.  God  so  loved  man  that  he  could  not  bear  to  see  him  lost ; 
he  looked  about  to  see  how  he  could  save  him,  and  he  brought  out  this  most 
wonderful  plan.  It  was  his  own  contriving,  but  it  was  the  strangest  thing  that 
ever  was  known  ;  it  is  the  strangest  now  ;  it  must  be  the  strangest  in  all  time, 
that  he  should  so  contrive,  after  man's  sin,  that  all  the  blame  should  not  be  laid 
upon  man,  but  on  himself.  Instead  of  the  sinner's  suffering  the  penalty,  God 
laid  the  plan  to  suffer  himself.  To  do  this,  he  had  to  come  out  in  a  new  char- 
acter, never  before  revealed  to  men.  He  had  to  have  a  new  name  correspond- 
ing to  that  character, — the  name  of  Jehqvah  ;  and  in  the  further  revelation  of 
himself,  the  I  Am  ;  and  still  further  the  name  Immanuel — God  with  us.  Oh  ! 
the  wondrous  plan  of  God ;  he  had  it  all  arranged  as  to  what  he  would  do  be- 
forehand. Hence  the  text  says  it  was  done  according  to  the  foreknowledge  of 
God.  He  foresaw  that  the  evil  of  sin  would  be  remedied  by  calling  to  him  his 
elect  through  the  sanctification  of  the  Spirit.  God  saw  the  way  all  though  his 
plan,  or  he  never  would  have  undertaken  to  do  it.  It  was  so  stupendous  that 
the  suffering  of  pain,  privation  and  sorrow,  was  lost  sight  of,  because  of  the 
glorious  residt  of  saving  lost  human  beings.  So  of  Christ  it  was  said,  "  Who 
for  the  joy  that  was  set  before  him,  endured  the  cross,  despising  the  shame." 
Yet  he  saw  the  wondrous  plan  would  save  man  so  perfectly  that  he  forgot  the 
cross,  and  suffering,  and  shamo,  in  contemplating  the  finished  salvation  of  his 
brethren. 

A  great  deal  has  been  said  about  foreknowledge.  We  have  not  time  to  go 
through  that  subject,  nor  does  it  materially  concern  us  to  take  up  the  question 
about  which  so  many  silly  utterances  have  been  made.  All  that  God  foreknew, 
so  far  as  the  text  is  concerned,  was  that  the  elect,  through  the  sanctification  of 
the  Spirit  unto  obedience,  should  be  saved.     But  how  can  this  be  done  ?     Now 


36  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

see  what  his  plan  is :  1st.  It  takes  hold  of  man  when  he  is  dead  in  trespasses 
and  in  sin.  "  Whtn  we  wore  dead,"  says  the  apostle.  If  there  were  any  who 
were  not  c'e  id,  the  plan  will  not  do  for  them  ;  but  his  great  love  comprehends 
them  that  are  dead  in  sin.  2d.  His  plan  was  to  contrive  to  communicate  him- 
self to  them,  and  this  communication  is  made  in  the  time  of  saving  them  from 
sin.  It  is  by  the  Spirit,  which  goes  right  to  the  heart,  and  talks  of  the  great 
salvation.  It  is  a  part  of  God's  progi-amme.  I^Ian  would  never  have  known 
that  G(jd  had  elected  him  but  by  the  Holy  Ghost.  Now  mark  the  process. 
The  Holy  Gho.st  reproves  man  for  his  sins,  and  fills  the  heart  Avith  trouble  on 
account  of  the  same.  He  brings  them  to  adopt  God's  plan  of  obedience  to  the 
truth.  They  then,  by  his  guidance,  forsake  all  evil  ways  to  get  out  of  trouble  ; 
but  he  shows  them  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  looking  through  him  to  the 
Father,  they  get  out  of  trouble.  When  they  come  into  this  condition,  they 
think  and  say  they  never  mean  to  sin  again  ;  they  never  will  get  away  from  the 
joyful  state,  they  are  so  jealous  on  the  subject,  and  happy  all  the  day  long.  And 
God,  so  gTeat  in  his  goodness,  continues  to  shine  upon  them  through  their  hearts, 
and  while  he  thus  shines  upon  them,  he  so  reveals  matters  to  them  that  they  see 
that  all  is  not  as  they  want  it.  For  he  shows  eveiy  thing  in  them,  like  the 
motes  that  may  be  seen  in  the  sunbeam,  though  they  cannot  be  seen  where  the 
ray  of  the  sun  does  not  fall.  It  is  in  this  light  they  see  something  wrong,  and 
they  have  a  hard  time  of  it.  The  difficulty  complained  of,  is  that  they  can't 
get  along  right.  When  they  thought  all  was  right,  they  find  it  is  not  so.  Like 
the  apostle  Faul,  they  find  that  when  they  would  do  good,  evil  is  present  with 
them,  and  they  are  in  distress ;  they  delight  in  the  law  of  the  Lord  after  the 
inner  man  ;  but  they  still  are  not  right,  nntil  looking  through  the  medium  of 
the  light  they  are  made  to  say,  "  It  is  no  more  I,  but  sin  that  dwelleth  in  me." 
Paul  had  the  idea  that  God  thought  as  much  of  the  body  as  of  the  soul ;  hence 
he  made  provision  for  the  subjugation  of  the  law  of  the  menibers.  He  would 
not  have  that  variance  ;  he  would  not  rest  until  that  matter  was  disposed  of;  he 
was  detennined  to  have  religion  inside  as  well  as  outside  ;  unlike  many  Bletho- 
dists  of  the  present  day,  who  are  satisfied  with  the  outside  only. 

Great  attem})ts  are  made  to  make  figs  grow  on  thistles,  and  grapes  on  thorns. 
It  won't  do  ;  we  can't  get  along  in  that  way.  We  have  come  here  to  get  the 
inside  right.  Oh  !  how  many  Methodists  go  about  the  country  grumbling  and 
complaining,  walking  in  heaviness  and  darkness,  never  daring  to  say,  nor  able 
to  say,  "  My  ways  please  the  Lord."  So  it  will  be  just  as  long  as  the  religion 
you  have  is  all  outside.  Oh,  such  people  !  God  can't  get  a  recommendation  of 
his  plan  at  all  from  professors  like  these ;  and  on  this  account  many  get  into 
difficulty,  and  make  it  difficult  for  other  men  to  be  religious,  who,  if  they  are 
convcrtecl,  do  not  stay  converted  very  long.  God  has  made  an  arrangement  for 
all  to  do  better  than  that.  Of  your  ownselvcs,  you  can  no  more  live  right  than 
a  broken  watch  can  keep  good  time.  Do  you  think  God  has  made  such  a  shift- 
less work  as  that  by  which  he  would  save  the  soul  ?  1  tell  you  he  has  not.  If 
you  keep  crying  np  failure  in  this  matter,  you  make  the  assertion  that  the  blame 
falls  on  (jod. 

Now  (jod  stands  ready  to  take  away  the  trouble.  And  he  has  notified  us  of 
it,  and  urged  us  to  receive  the  power  adequate  to  remove  the  difficulty.  Will 
you  do  it  now  ?  I  can't  grumble  about  going  on  foot  if  my  friend  ofiers  to  take 
me  in  his  carriage  all  the  way,  nor  can  you  grumble  about  your  troubles  as  you 
have  done,  when  God  offers  to  take  away  the  whole  difficulty.     The  saints  of 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  37 

whom  Peter  speaks  were  elected  unto  obedience  and  the  sprinkling  of  the  blood. 
As  is  said  in  Ezekiel,  "  Behold  I  will  sprinkle  you  with  clean  water  ;  from  all 
your  idols  I  will  cleanse  you,  and  I  will  take  away  the  evil  out  of  your  hearts, 
and  will  put  my  spirit  upon  you."  If  God  will  do  that  there  is  no  hard  work 
about  it.  How  he  will  do  it  I  do  not  know.  God  has  his  way  of  doing  it ;  he,. 
says  the  Holy  Ghost  shall  come  upon  thee,  and  will  perfectly  cleanse  and  wash 
away  your  impurity.  And  when  you  are  cleansed,  you  will  be  set  apart,  sancti- 
fied for  the  Master's  use. 

Now,  sisters,  you  know  what  I  mean.  You  do  not,  after  having  used  your 
dishes,  set  them  away  soiled  and  dirty ;  but  you  see  that  they  are  washed,  and 
then  set  back  to  be  used  whenever  they  are  again  required. 

The  Lord  hath  set  apart  him  that  is  godly  for  himself.  He  washes  in  the 
blood  of  Christ ;  cleanses  as  the  sanctuary  was  cleansed  by  the  blood  of  sprink- 
ling; as  the  temple  and  the  tabernacle  were  thus  purified  and  made  holy,  so 
God,  through  the  blood,  keeps  us  for  himself  elected  unto  obedience ;  then,  in- 
deed, the  great  election  takes  place,  God  saying  of  the  blood-washed  soul,  "  He 
is  mine." 

Some  talk  about  election  to  heaven  and  eternal  life,  or  to  hell  and  eternal 
death.  Now,  as  I  look  at  it,  these  places  are  appointed  and  fixed  to  the  two 
classes,  the  washed  and  the  unwashed ;  how  foolish  then  to  talk  of  election  to 
either  of  the  places.  These  and  such  like  errors  have  come  from  learned  men. 
I  do  not  undervalue  education,  but  men  of  learning  have  been  the  authors  of 
the  most  tremendous  errors  that  have  ever  come  upon  the  world.  We  have 
more  to  fear  from  men  of  learning  than  we  have  from  the  devil,  for  the  errors 
are  the  more  damaging,  as  they,  through  their  learning,  are  the  more  influential. 
The  text  says  nothing  about  being  elected  to  heaven  ;  but  it  speaks  of  election 
unto  obedience.  A  great  many  seem  to  want  to  accept  of  election  unto  obedience, 
but  they  can't ;  God  has  elected  them  unto  obedience  through  the  sanctification. 
"What  is  needed  is  here  fully  made  up ;  by  this  we  have  the  witness  of  the 
Spirit,  so  that  whatever  we  are  called  to  pass  through,  God  says,  by  the  Holy 
Spirit  ''that's  right."  And  in  allour  life-work  the  Lord  keeps  whispering,  "That's 
right."  One  of  God's  elect  through  the  sanctification  of  the  Spirit,  is  plunged 
into  the  depths  of  poverty  ;  but  the  Spirit  says,  "  That's  right,  my  child."  If 
cast  down  by  affliction,  we  hear  the  word  of  the  Spirit  again.  "  That's  right,  my 
child,  that's  right."  God  knows  better  where  to  lead  us  than  we  do  ourselves. 
If  the  devil  tempts,  that's  right;  God  will  make  the  devil's  wrath  to  praise  him. 
I  am  surprised  that  the  old  fiend  has  not  been  disgusted  with  his  success  long 
ago,  and  quit  his  business.  For,  as  long  as  he  is  tempting  the  soul  that  is  set 
apart  for  God,  he  is  only  increasing  the  glory  that  awaits  the  tempted. 

It  was  told  of  Bishop  \Vhatcoat  that  the  devil  tempted  him  by  suggesting 
to  him  once,  "  You  have  made  a  miserable  failure  in  preaching."  Whatcoat 
said  :  "  Well,  what  more  could  you  expect  of  me  ?  I'll  fail  if  I  can  save  souls." 
And  when,  after  that,  he  was  more  succes.sful,  Satan  tempted  him  to  pride  by 
saying,  "  You  have  done  so  well."  Whatcoat  said,  "  If  so,  glory  to  God  ;  I  want 
to  preach  well  to  save  souls  for  Jesus's  sake."  If  we  are  God's,  the  place  where 
he  puts  us  is  the  best  place  for  us,  and  then  if  the  devil  tries  to  hurt  us,  God 
will  make  the  hurt  the  best  thing  that  could  take  place. 

We  are  elected  to  the  sprinkling  of  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ.  You  know 
when  Israel  was  in  Egypt,  God  qualified  Moses  and  Aaron  for  their  work  of 
leading  out  the  hosts  of  Jacob,  by  commanding  that  a  lamb  should  be  slain,  and 


38  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

the  blood  be  taken,  and  the  lintels  of  the  door,  and  the  posts,  should  be  sprinkled 
with  the  blood  of  the  slain  lamb.  That  night,  when  the  destroying  angel  went 
forth,  there  was  life  and  protection  in  all  houses  covered  by  the  blood ;  but  in 
the  houses  of  the  Egyptians  there  was  death.  The  text,  I  think,  rcfere  to  this. 
So  those  that  are  sprinkled  by  the  blood  of  Christ  are  defended  by  the  blood. 
In  the  calm,  serene  passages  of  human  life,  God  says  of  those  under  the  cover 
of  the  blood,  "Don't  touch- him;"  if  through  the  fire,  or  water,  or  flood,  God's 
eye  is  over  us  as  he  speaks,  saying,  "  Don't  touch  that  child,  he  is  covered  with 
a  robe  washed  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb." 

Oh  Lord !  help  us  to  put  it  on  to-day — now  ;  so  that  the  holy  law  of  God, 
seeing  on  us  the  sprinkled  blood,  says  "all  right."  When  the  blood  is  on  us  no 
calamity  can  befall  us;  it  is  all  right.  By  and  by  we  shall  have  to  die;  but 
what  of  that,  if  we  have  the  blood  of  sprinkling  on  us.  When  Cookman  started 
for  the  sweep  through  the  gates,  what  did  he  see?  The  blood  ! — the  blood  of 
the  Lamb  !     May  God  help  us  to  be  washed  to-day  ! 


OBSERVATIONS. 

The  venerable  man  of  God,  in  his  usual  rapidity  of  manner,  pressed  home 
on  the  careless  conscience  the  beauty  and  blessedness  of  the  white-robed 
righteousness  of  Messiah.  His  closing  allusion  to  one  undying  name,  Cook- 
man,  and  every  reference  to  that  ascended  and  redeemed  ambassador  of  Jesus, 
incidentally  made  in  the  course  of  preaching,  prayer,  or  experience,  had  tlie 
effect  to  stir  every  heart  with  emotion,  and  start  the  tear  of  Christian  sympa- 
thy. How  strange  the  ways  of  God  !  By  what  we  supposed  to  be  the 
untimely  removal  of  our  brother  from  his  usefulness  on  earth,  God  redoubled 
the  power  of  his  influence,  and  made  his  death  a  ministry  of  glad  tidings,  that 
shall  roll  on  with  the  ages. 

The  movement,  after  a  few  words  of  exhortation  following  Father  Coleman's 
sermon,  was  quite  general  on  the  part  of  those  who  were  earnestly  seeking  the 
predestined  "  sprinkling  of  the  blood  of  Jesus,"  to  the  altar  of  prayer. 

The  reactionary  forces,  so  common  at  ordinary  camp-meetings,  are  hardly 
perceptible  here.  One  of  the  most  thrilling  meetings,  like  that  just  before 
preaching,  is  folloAved  by  another  and  still  better  one.  Dullness  and  exhaus- 
tion are  kept  at  bay  by  a  lively  variety  in  all  the  services,  and  an  earnestness  of 
spirit  which  rises  above  everything  formal  or  frivolous. 

We  miss  at  this  meeting  many  of  the  features  which  characterized  IMan- 
heim.  The  number  of  social  meetings  is  greatly  diminished.  Mrs.  Kecne  is 
absent,  but  laboring  for  the  Master  elsewhere.  E.  P.  Smith  is  teaching  the 
simple  life  of  faith  and  love  to  interested  crowds  across  the  Atlantic,  where 
also  Dr.  Boardman  is  laboring.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Palmer  arc  busy  as  usual,  but 
in  a  distant  field.  The  sisters  Lois  and  Cassie  Smitli,  enfeebled  in  health,  are 
in  seclusion,  listening  to  catch  the  notes  of  victory  from  afar  ;  and  we  observe 
as  yet  no  companies  or  company  tents  open  to  social  services.     This  is  not  to 


A    MODERN  PENTECOST.  39 

be  deplored,  especially  during  the  early  period  of  the  meeting.  Concentration 
for  pui-poses  of  unity  in  doctrine  and  the  general  leading  of  the  Spirit,  tends  to 
harmony  and  power.  As  the  days  pass  on,  we  shall  doubtless  find  the  work 
developing,  and  the  usual  tendencies  of  religious  sympathy  evinced  in  bringing 
neighbors  and  friends  of  particular  localities  closer  together  for  mutual  help 
and  encouragement.  Meanwhile,  the  supervision  of  the  National  Association 
is  exercised  over  eveiy  service,  and  the  watchwords  of  the  camp  are  :  Prompt 
attendance  at  every  meeting  ;  ceaseless  prayer  for  the  outpouring  of  the  Spirit, 
and  personal  faith  in  Jesus  for  the  glorious  manifestation  of  his  saving  and 
sanctifying  power. 


SERMON  BY  REV.  A.  LOWREY,  D.  D.,  OF  CINCINNATI. 

THURSDAY,  2^  P.   M. 

"  Have  Faith  in  Godr—Maxk  11 :  22. 

A  superficial  acquaintance  merely  with  the  New  Testament  will  convince 
any  man  of  ordinary  perception  that  faith  is  an  impoi-tant  element  in  the 
Christian  religion. 

It  is  one  of  its  distinctive  features,  as  no  other  type  of  religion  has  ever 
given  so  great  prominence  to  faith.  The  Bible,  so  far  as  the  Old  Testament  is 
concerned,  is  largely  a  history  of  faith.  The  New  Testament  is  extensively  a 
treatise  on  faith ;  an  exposition  of  the  doctrine,  duty  and  results  of  faith. 
The  scheme  of  redemption  is  penetrated  in  every  part  by  the  conditionality  of 
faith.  The  life  of  a  Christian  is  a  life  of  faith  iu  opposition  to  a  life  of  sense 
and  groveling  materialism.  Faith  enters  into  all  the  heights  and  depths  and 
complexities  of  Christian  experience.  It  is  not  only  instrumental,  but  sub- 
stantive. It  is  essential  to  the  nature,  vital  to  the  existence,  and  indispensable 
to  the  growth  of  spiritual  life.  It  has  both  invigorating  and  nutritive  proper- 
ties. By  it  the  texture  of  the  inner  man  is  built  up  and  developed  into  com- 
pleteness and  maturity. 

Allow  us  to  engage  your  attention  with  the  nature^  origin^  object  and  uses 
of  faith.  Faith,  as  used  in  the  Scriptures,  is  an  equivocal  term.  With  belief 
as  its  reigning  idea,  it  has  different  shades  of  meaning.  In  its  lowest  sense,  it 
implies  only  a  cold  intellectual  assent  to  religious  truth,  independent  of  good 
works.  For  example  :  ''  What  doth  it  profit,  my  brethren,  though  a  man  say 
he  hath  faith  and  have  not  works?  Can  faith  save  him?"  That  is,  can  the 
mere  faith  of  credence,  or  the  foreboding  faith  of  trembling  devils,  save  a  man  ? 

Faith  is  sometimes  put  for  the  entire  code  of  Gospel  precepts,  as  in  the 
text.  A  great  company  of  the  priests  were  obedient  to  the  faith  ;  that  is,  they 
submitted  to  the  general  requirements  of  the  G-^spel.  Faith  is  also  used  as  a 
symbol  of  Christianity  or  title  of  believers.     For  instance,  ''  As  we  have  there- 


40  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL    CAMP-MEETING. 

fore  opportunity  let  us  do  good  unto  all,  especially  unto  them  who  are  of  the 
household  of  faith  ;  "  that  is,  the  family  of  believers  called  "  the  household  of 
faith,"  are  to  have  the  precedence  in  our  charities.  Some  degree  of  discrimi- 
nation in  the  bestowment  of  our  benefices  seems  allowable. 

Literally,  and  according  to  the  meaning  of  the  original  word  (piatis)  faith 
imports  persuasion,  confidence  and  trust.  Parkhurst,  in  defining  the  Greek 
term,  says  :  ''  It  generally  implies  such  knowledge  of,  assent  to,  and  con6dence 
in  certain  divine  truths,  especially  those  of  the  Gospel,  as  produce  good  works." 
Dr.  D wight  says  :  "  The  faith  of  the  Gospel  is  that  emotion  of  the  mind  which 
is  called  trust  or  confidence  exercised  towards  the  moral  character  of  God,  and 
particularly  of  the  Saviour."  We  accept  their  statements  as  good  general  defi- 
nitions. According  to  them,  the  first  thing  necessary  to  evangelical  faith  is 
religious  instruction.  The  second  is  a  convinced  judgment;  the  third  is  a 
confiding  motion  of  the  heart  and  mind  called  trust,  by  which  we  renounce 
every  other  refuge  and  shut  ourselves  up  to  the  merits  of  Christ  for  salvation. 

As  Dr.  Bunting  justly  remarks,  "  It  is  such  a  hearty  concurrence  of  the 
will  and  afiections  with  the  plan  af  salvation,  as  implies  a  renunciation  of  every 
other  refuge,  and  an  actual  trust  in  the  Saviour  and  personal  apprehension  of 
his  merits."  Such  a  belief  of  the  Gospel  and  such  a  reliance  on  the  atone- 
ment, as  leads  us  to  come  to  Christ,  to  receive  Christ,  and  to  commit  the 
keeping  of  our  souls  into  his  hands  in  humble  confidence  of  his  power  and 
willingness  to  save.  Mr.  Wesley  gives  a  definition,  as  we  might  expect,  essen- 
tially evangelic  and  spiritual.  He  writes,  "  Christian  faith  is  then  not  only  an 
assent  to  the  whole  Gospel  of  Christ,  but  also  a  full  reliance  on  the  blood  of 
Christ ;  a  trust  in  the  merits  of  his  life,  death  and  resurrection  ;  a  recumbency 
upon  him  as  our  atonement,  and  our  life  as  given  for  us  and  living  in  vis.  It 
is  a  sure  confidence  that  a  man  hath  in  God,  that,  through  the  merits  of  Christ, 
his  sins  are  forgiven  and  he  reconciled  to  the  favor  of  God  ;  and  in  consequence 
hereof  a  closing  with  him  and  cleaving  to  him  as  our  wisdom,  righteousness, 
sanctification  and  redemption,  or,  in  one  word,  our  salvation." 

Now  faith  in  the  sense  of  trust,  which  is  peculiar  to  Gospel  belief,  is  nec- 
essary to  spiritual  life.  For  many  persons  have  been  sufficiently  instructed  in 
religion  and  also  convinced  of  its  truths,  who  remain  unhealed  of  sin.  Pcrliaps 
I  now  address  a  multitude  who  believe  in  the  being  of  God,  the  inspiration  of 
the  Scriptures  ;  the  divinity  and  Messiahship  of  Christ ;  the  necessity  and  vir- 
tue of  the  atonement ;  the  possibility  and  indispensableness  of  pardon  and  the 
new  birth  ;  the  gift  and  offices  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  as  well  as  to  assent  to  all 
the  minor  and  relative  proportions  of  Christian  belief;  and  yet,  with  this  large 
and  true  faith  they  remain  dead  in  trespasses  and  sin.  What  is  the  matter  ? 
Is  there  no  balm  in  Gilead,  is  there  no  physician  there  ?  Why,  then,  is  not  the 
health  of  tlic  (laughter  of  my  pooi)lo  recovered  ?  It  is  not  the  want  of  faith, 
I  Hit  the  want  of  tliat  property  of  faith  which  alone  appropriates — the  property 
of  trust — the  property  of  reliance.  It  is  that  desperate  self-renunciation,  and 
universal  abandonment  of  every  other  refuge,  which,  looking  up  to  Jesus,  says  : 

"  Other  refuge  have  I  none, 

Hangs  my  lielpless  soul  on  Tht-o  : 

"  Could  my  tears  furover  flow. 

Conki  my  zeal  no  hmgiior  know, 
These  for  sin  could  not  atone, 
Thou  must  save,  and  Thou  alono  : 

"  In  my  liands  no  price  I  brinp;. 
Simply  to  the  cross  I  cling." 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  41 

Some,  however,  use  another  subterfuge  in  order  to  quiet  the  uneasy  and 
painful  sensations  of  the  mind,  and  obscure  the  fearful  events  and  responsibili- 
ties of  eternity.  They  preposterously  assert  that  they  do  trust  in  Christ  and  have, 
as  others,  hope  of  salvation.  And  yet  they  never  shed  a  penitential  tear,  nor 
breathe  a  prayer  for  mercy,  nor  quit  their  cherished  sins.  They  may  not  be 
steeped  in  depravity,  but  the  ungodliness  to  which  they  are  constitutionally 
prone,  they  allow,  and  love  and  practice.  . 

Now  life  and  death  are  not  more  widely  separated  and  incompatible  than 
this  fliith  differs  from  that  of  a  living  Christian  or  true  penitent.  It  is  the 
faith  of  presumption,  a  trust  that  Christ  will  save  them  in  their  sins  without 
saving  them  from  their  sins.  It  is  a  conceit,  a  delusion  which  seeks  to  accom- 
plish an  absurdity,  a  moral  impossibility.  It  makes  Jesus,  not  a  Saviour  from 
sin,  but  a  mere  Avarrantee  against  hell  and  misery,  in  defiance  of  sin,  and  in 
harmony  with  sin.  This  cannot  be :  "  For  what  communion  hath  light  with 
darkness  and  what  concord  hath  Christ  with  Belial  ?" 

That  faith  which  is  connected  with  salvation  lets  light  in  upon  the  corrup- 
tions of  the  heart,  produces  penitential  tendei*ness  and  creates  aversion  to  sin. 
Then  it  puts  us  upon  the  pursuit  of  salvation.  It  feels  after  saving  merits  and 
healing  virtues.  It  looks  up  to  Jesus,  takes  hold  of  his  promises,  leans  hard  on 
his  atonement,  makes  fast  the  fingers  of  its  confidence  in  the  gory  wounds  of 
his  side,  and  finally  settles  down  upon  the  conviction  that  Christ  has  become  to 
him  wisdom,  righteousness,  sanctification  and  redemption.  Now  faith  is  to 
him  "  the  substance  of  things  hoped  for,  the  evidence  of  things  not  seen." 

2.  The  origin  of  Faith.  There  are  always  two  opposite  beliefs  on  this 
point.  Some  men  have  taken  the  position  that  faith  is  an  exclusive  and  arbi- 
trary gift  of  Grod.  Others,  by  consequence,  have  leaned  to  the  opposite 
extreme,  and  represented  faith  as  the  independent  act  of  man.  It  will  be  easy 
to  show  that  both  these  propositions  involve  error,  and  that  the  truth  lies  at 
the  mean  distance  between  these  polemic  poles.  The  Scriptures  clearly  teach 
that  faith  is  in  part  the  gift  of  God,  and  in  part  the  exercise  of  a  free  and 
responsible  agent.  The  power  to  believe  is  of  God,  the  appropriation  and  use 
of  that  power  is  the  work  of  the  suppliant,  whether  penitent  sinner  or  seeker  of 
holiness. 

That  there  is  a  sense  in  which  fiiith  is  the  gift  of  God  is  sufficiently  mani- 
fest from  the  following  texts  :  "  Looking  unto  Jesus  the  author  and  finisher  of 
our  faith." — Heb.  12  :  2.  "And  the  Apostles  said  unto  the  Lord  increase  our 
faith." — Luke  17  :  5.  These  passages  evince  that  God  is  concerned  in  the  ori- 
gin, increase  and  perfecting  of  our  faith,  x^nd  it  is  quite  evident  that  without 
the  inspiration  of  power  giving  to  the  mind  believing  biases,  no  man  would  and 
no  man  could  reverse  the  unbelieving  tendencies  of  his  nature,  and  have  faith 
in  God  in  the  sense  of  the  text.  He  might  have  the  faith  of  a  deist,  which  is 
cold  as  a  moon-beam,  and  bounded  by  the  icebergs  of  materialism ;  but  the 
faith  of  a  Christian,  which  pulsates  with  life  and  love,  and  mantles  itself  with  the 
leaves,  and  flowers,  and  fruitage  of  usefulness,  he  cannot  have  without  divine 
help  inspiring  him  with  Godward  inclinations  and  trustful  dispositions.  But 
other  considerations  clearly  show  that  the  exercise  of  the  power  to  believe  is  the 
act  of  man.  And  this  exercise  is  not  necessitated.  Whether  we  will  believe 
or  not,  is  a  contingency  that  hinges  upon  our  volitions.  The  first  pi'oof  of  this 
position  is  the  serious  fact  that  we  are  made  responsible  for  our  faith.  To 
believe  is  a  duty  positively  commanded  of  all  men.     Not  to  believe  is  a  punish- 


42  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL    CAMP-MEETING. 

able  offence.  "  He  that  believetli  and  is  baptized  shall  be  saved,  but  he  that 
believeth  not  shall  be  damned."  The  acts  of  God  are  irresponsible  ;  but  the 
acts  of  men  are  either  rewardable  or  punishable,  according  to  their  moral  char- 
acter. Hence  as  believing  is  to  be  rewarded  with  salvation,  and  unbelief  is 
punishable  with  damnation,  it  must  be  man's  own  proper  and  responsible  act.  • 
Another  evidence  is  founded  upon  the  conditionality  of  salvation.  According 
to  the  Scriptures,  ftiith  is  the  sole  condition  of  salvation.  Paul  says,  "  There- 
fore we  conclude  that  a  man  is  justided  by  faith  without  the  deeds  of  the 
law."  Rom.,  3  :  28.  Now  if  fiith  is  exclusively  the  gift  of  God,  then  salva- 
tion is  tendered  to  us  on  a  condition  which  God  himself  performs,  or  necessi- 
tates us  to  perform.  That  is,  he  makes  justification  conditional  and  uncondi- 
tional at  the  same  time,  which  is  a  bold  absurdity.  We  reach  then  this  conclu- 
sion that  faith  is  a  joint  work.  The  power  to  believe  is  given  to  us  of  God, 
the  employment  of  that  power,  styled  belief,  is  required  of  us  on  the  part  of 
God.  And  while  God  freely  inspires  the  power,  yet  he  will  no  more  believe 
for  us  than  he  will  repent  or  pray  for  us. 

And  having  bestowed  the  ability  he  will  not  hold  any  man  guiltless ;  nor 
suffer  him  to  go  unpunished  who  lives  or  dies  in  unbelief.  And  the  assump- 
tion is  not  improbable  that  we  all  have  vastly  more  power  to  believe  than  we 
use.  It  is,  with  us,  a  buried  talent — a  wasted  force.  In  the  cuse  of  infidels, 
it  is  a  misapplied  and  perverted  force.  But  should  there  be  a  lack  of  power 
it  may  be  supplemented  at  any  time  by  an  appeal  to  God.  Lord,  I  believe  ; 
help  thou  my  unbelief  It  is  at  this  point  that  the  utility  of  prayer  comes 
in  and  co-ordinates  with  faith.  Prayer  recuperates  the  wasted  energies,  and 
replenishes  the  fires  of  unbelief.  We  must  recollect,  however,  that  prayer 
for  more  power  to  believe  is  but  solemn  mockery  if  we  do  not  use  what  we 
have.  God  helps  those  who  help  themselves.  It  was  only  when  the  handful 
of  meal  in  the  barrel  and  the  little  oil  in  the  cruse  were  freely  used  accord- 
ing to  the  Lord's  direction,  that  he  pledged  himself  to  the  poor  widow  of 
tried  faith,  saying,  "The  barrel  of  meal  shail  not  waste,  neither  shall  the 
cruse  of  oil  fail,  until  the  day  that  the  Lord  sendeth  rain  upon  the  earth." 
The  power  of  belief  must  be  stretched  to  its  utmost  tension  before  he  will 
increase  it. 

3.  The  object  of  Faith.  God  is  presented  in  the  text  as  the  object  of 
faith.  In  his  all-comprising  fullness  and  supremacy  he  is  set  before  us  to 
challenge  faith.  It  is  in  his  being,  unity,  spirituality,  natural  and  moral 
attributes,  and  especially  in  his  redemptive  work,  that  we  are  invited  and 
required  to  focalize  trust.  God  here  represents  every  star  of  hope,  every 
gleam  of  light,  every  healing  virtue,  every  festive  joy,  every  beatific  pros- 
pect. Faith  in  God  comprises  so  many  points  that  we  cannot  notice  them  in 
detail.  We  must  confine  ourselves  to  those  truths  which  more  especially 
enter  "into  evangelical  faith. 

At  bottom  and  fundamentally  saving  faith  in  God  implies  trust  in  the  sac- 
rificial and  propitiatory  offering  of  Christ.  We  cannot  separate  between  God 
and  His  Son,  nor  can  we  ignore  the  atonement,  and  exercise  a  life-restoring 
faith  in  God  directly  and  immediately.  God  does  not,  and  cannot,  allow 
himself  to  be  approaclied  by  the  sinner  in  his  own  name  and  proper  person. 
To  do  so  would  involve  connivance  at  sin,  and  introduce  anarchy  into  the 
moral  government  of  God.  The  emphatic  words  of  Christ  are  these:  "I 
am  the  way,  and  the   truth,  and  the  life  ;  no  man   cometh  unto  the  Father 


A    MODERN   PENTECOST.  43 

but  by  me."  (John  14  :  7.)  A  mediator  must  come  between  us  and  God  ; 
not  as  a  new  channel  of  communication,  but  as  an  intercessor,  proxy  and 
substitute — not  pleading  for  pardon  on  the  basis  of  unsatisfied  clemency  ; 
but  bearing  in  his  hands  a  full  and  satisfactory  indemnity  for  the  impairment 
done  to  the  holy  order  of  the  universe,  by  human  sin. 

Nor  was  the  sacrifice  of  Christ  a  mere  ceremonial  propriety.  It  was  a 
stern  measure,  growing  out  of  the  desperate  exigencies  of  our  case.  There 
was  an  irreconcilable  clash  between  human  crime  and  the  holiness  of  heaven, 
which  could  only  be  adjusted  by  satisfaction.  Wherefore  it  is  of  necessity 
that  this  man  have  somewhat  to  offer.  It  was  not  only  an  advocate,  with 
eloquent  voice  and  powers  of  persuasion  that  we  needed,  but  a  priest  as  well, 
to  offer  gifts  and  sacrifices — a  priest  with  crimson  temple  and  gory  side,  and 
hands  all  dripping  with  atoning  blood.  Even  the  power  of  Christ  to  save  is 
confined  within  the  limit  of  his  mediation  and  sacrifice  "  Wherefore  he  is 
able  also  to  save  them  to  the  uttermost  that  come  unto  God  by  him,  seeing 
he  ever  liveth  to  make  intercession  for  them."     (Hebrews  7  :  25.) 

Indeed,  all  the  possibilities,  and  encouraging  certainties  of  salvation  spring 
out  of  the  blood  of  expiation.  In  this  blood  the  faith  of  Paul  waxes  strong 
by  contrast.  "  For  if  the  blood  of  bulls,  and  of  goats,  and  the  ashes  of  a 
heifer,  sprinkling  the  unclean,  sanctifieth  to  the  purifying  of  the  flesh,  how 
much  more  shall  the  blood  of  Christ,  who  through  the  eternal  Spirit,  offered 
himself  without  spot  to  God,  purge  your  conscience  from  dead  works  to  serve 
the  living  God?"  There  is  to  be  an  eternal  recognition  of  the  blood,  as  the 
procuring  cause  of  holiness.  Those  who  have  gone  to  heaven,  we  are  told, 
washed  their  robes,  and  made  them  white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.  Those 
who  sing  in  heaven,  adopt  the  chorus,  "  Unto  him  that  loved  us,  and  washed 
us  from  our  sins  in  his  own  blood."  It  is  only  when  we  take  fast  hold  upon 
the  atonement  that  we  get  down  among  the  primary  rocks  of  our  faith. 

"  Rock  of  ages,  cleft  for  me, 
Let  me  hide  myself  in  thee  ; 
Lot  the  water  and  the  blood, 
From  thy  wounded  side  which  flow'd, 
Be  of  sin  the  perfect  cure — 
Save  from  wrath  and  make  me  pure." 

Faith  in  God  implies  faith  in  his  promises  and  covenant  engagements. 
God  has  not  only  provided  saving  merits,  and  healing  virtues,  and  cleansing 
fountains;  but  he  has  pledged  himself  to  appropriate  these  efficacies  on  the 
most  easy  and  practical  conditions.  These  unmerited  promises  are  so  many, 
and  various,  and  sweet,  that  they  are  called  exceeding  great  and  precious. 
In  the  same  connection  it  is  declared  that  they  are  given  to  us  for  the  express 
purpose  that  by  them  we  might  be  partakers  of  the  divine  nature,  having 
escaped  the  corruption  that  is  in  the  world  through  lust.  The  Lord  has 
entered  into  a  solemn  contract  with  the  sinning  race — a  contract  to  save  us 
fully  and  forever  through  Christ;  and  now  he  condescends  to  make  use  of 
means  to  inspire  confidence  and  hope  in  the  fulfillment  of  his  testamental 
engagement.  He  has  required  its  continual  re  assertion  from  the  pulpit. 
He  has  ratified  it  with  two  sacraments,  and  finally  confirmed  it  by  an  oath 
"  that  by  two  immutable  things  in  which  it  is  impossible  for  God  to  lie,  we 
might  have  strong  consolation  who  have  fled  for  refuge  to  lay  hold  on  the 
hope  set  before  us."    (Heb.  6  :  18.)      He  has  even  put  his  fidelity  and  jus- 


44  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

tiee  at  stake  to  assure  us  that  there  shall  be  no  failure  in  the  fulfillment  of 
his  self-assured  obligations.  Therefore  it  is  said,  "  If  we  confess  our  sins, 
he  is  faithful  and  just  to  forgive  us  our  sins,  and  to  cleanse  us  from  all 
unrighteousness."  Here  the  Lord  directly  commits  himself  to  work  pardon 
and  holiness  on  the  sole  condition  of  what  is  comprehended  in  the  conl'ession 
of  sin.  He  invites  us  to  put  him  to  the  test,  and  allows  us  to  conclude,  if  he 
fails  to  the  extent  of  one  jot  or  tittle,  that  his  fidelity  and  justice  shall  stand 
forever  impeached. 

Such  promises,  underlaid  by  the  atonement,  meet  us  everywhere,  and  chal- 
lenge our  faith.  If  we  are  not  fully  saved,  then  the  sin  must  lie  at  our  door, 
and  the  failure  must  be  charged  up  to  our  own  account.  Indeed,  when  we  look 
at  the  ground  and  facilities  of  faith  from  this  stand-point,  we  cannot  be  surprised 
that  unbelief  has  been  ranked  among  the  hell-deserving  crimes. 

But  what  is  it  to  believe  in  the  promises  of  Grod  ?  Is  it  merely  to  credit  the 
truth  and  sincerity  of  God  ?  Is  it  the  limit  of  faith  to  rely  even  confidently  on 
the  future  indefinite  verification  of  the  utterances  of  God?  If  this  is  all,  then 
impenitent  sinners  may  be  true  believers.  It  is  not  enough  to  believe  God  is 
able  and  willing  to  save.  Nor  is  it  enough  to  believe  that  he  is  able  and  willing 
to  save  to  the  uttermost,  and  to  save  us  now.  It  is  not  impossible  for  a  well 
instructed,  clever  sinner  to  believe  all  this.  We  must  advance  a  step  further 
and  include  in  our  trust  the  promptitude  and  actual  saving  work  of  God.  We 
must  think  of  him  as  never  allowing  a  promise  to  go  to  protest,  as  never  for- 
getting the  date  of  its  maturity,  as  never  asking  an  extension  of  time.  We  must 
think  of  believing  and  receiving  as  coetaneous  and  inseparable.  If  I  put  myself 
under  the  treatment  of  Jesus,  according  to  his  directions,  for  a  perfect  cure, 
would  it  not  be  a  reflection  upon  Christ,  not  to  allow  that  he  heals.  Would  it 
not  be  an  assumption  that  Ave  may  perform  our  part  of  a  most  sacred  compact ; 
but,  alas !  Christ  may  fail  to  perform  his?  If,  according  to  my  deepest  con- 
sciousness, I  give  up  all  sin,  consecrate  myself  wholly  to  Christ,  trust  solely  in 
the  merits  of  his  life  and  death,  take  his  word  as  the  rule  of  my  faith,  and 
practice,  and  standard  of  my  character,  and  rectitude  and  invite  the  Spirit  to 
focalize  all  his  offices,  all  his  light  and  fire  upon  my  .soul  and  life — if,  in  short.  I 
sink  all  my  ambitions,  and  hopes,  and  pleasures,  and  death,  and  destiny  in  Christ, 
am  I  at  liberty  to  question  that  I  am  received  and  saved  ?  Perhaps  it  will  be 
said  you  may  do  all  this  very  sincerely,  but  through  ignorance  fail  to  accomplish 
your  purpose.  Be  it  so.  Is  Christ  so  hard  a  Master  diat  he  will  take  advantage 
of  my  ignorance,  and  hold  me  ofi"  in  a  frigid  disfellowship  and  reeking  corruption  ? 
Because  I  cannot  go  into  a  psychological  analysis  of  mind,  and  moral  siftings  of 
my  affections  and  feelings  with  infinite  exactitude— will  he  withhold  the  cup  of 
.salvation  or  doom  me  to  years  of  dark  uncertainty  ?  Thank  God  there  is  no  such 
severe  side  to  Jesus.  His  words  encourage  presumption — "  Whatsoever  things 
ye  desire  when  ye  pray,  believe  that  ye  receive  them,  and  ye  shall  have  them." 
The  Lord  seems  to  delight  in  seeing  his  children  defy  iaiprobabilities.  All  the 
bold  and  daring  instances  of  faith  on  record  are  most  commended  by  the  Saviour. 
The  case  of  the  Centurion,  whose  servant  was  sick  of  the  palsy,  w;is  a  type  of 
faith  most  pleasing  to  Jesus.  Christ  being  solicited  said,  ''  I  will  come  and 
heal  him."  But  the  Centurion  answered  and  said,  "  Lord  I  am  not  worthy  that 
thou  shouldst  come  under  my  roof;  but  speak  the  word  only  and  my  servant 
shall  be  healed.  For  I  am  a  man  under  authority  having  soldiers  under  me. 
And  I  say  unto  this  mau  go,  and  he  gocth  ;  and  to  my  servant  do  this,  and  he 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  45 

doeth  it."  When  Jesus  heard  it  he  marvelled  and  said — "  I  have  not  found  so 
great  faith,  no  not  in  Israel."  Then  Jesus  said  unto  the  Centurion,  "  Go  thy 
way,  and  as  thou  hast  believed,  so  be  it  done  unto  thee."  And  his  servant  was 
healed  in  the  self-same  hour.  This  was  a  crucial  case.  The  disease  was  in- 
curable— the  subject  a  mere  servant,  the  suppliant  unworthy,  the  means  to  be 
employed  was  a  simple  word,  in  the  absence  of  the  subject.  The  cure,  such 
was  the  nature  of  the  disease,  must  be  instantaneous  and  entire,  or  prove  a 
manifest  failure  But  as  the  faith  of  the  Centurion  measured  up  to  the  sublime 
urgencies  of  the  case,  the  mighty  work  of  healing  was  done  in  the  self-same 
hour.  The  faith  was  the  exact  measure  of  the  cure, 'and  the  two  acts  were  in- 
separable.    Jesus  spoke,  the  man  was  every  whit  whole. 

So  it  is  with  us.  Faith  brings  just  those  blessings  in  kind  and  quantity 
which  are  made  its  specific  object.  If  it  is  pardon  it  brings  pardon  and  the 
peace  of  reconciliation.  If  it  is  limited  salvation,  or  change  of  heart,  it  brings 
regeneration.  If  it  is  a  perfect  cure,  it  brings,  under  proper  conditions,  full 
redemption,  a  pure  heart,  entire  sanctification. 

'■•Hdve  faith  in  God."  It  will  cancel  your  guilt,  disburden  your  soul,  put 
a  new  song  into  your  mouth,  and  give  you  beauty  for  ashes,  the  oil  of  joy  for 
mourning,  and  the  garment  of  praise  for  the  spirit  of  heaviness. 

^'■Have  faith  in  GodT  It  will  bring  the  cleansing  blood  and  the  quickening 
spirit  into  contact  with  thy  heart.  It  will  deliver  you  from  sin,  and  all  that 
frets,  and  wastes,  and  burns,  and  rankles,  and  festers,  and  ulcerates  within.  ]t 
will  put  your  soul  to  rest  in  God — a  rest  that  no  storm  can  break.  "  Though 
the  earth  be  removed,  and  the  mountains  be  carried  iuto  the  midst  of  the  sea, 
and  though  the  waters  roar  and  be  troubled,  and  the  mountains  shake  with  the 
swellings  thereof — yet  within  is  a  river,  the  streams  whereof  make  glad  the  city 
of  God." 

'■'■Have,  faith  in  God."  It  will  graft  you  into  Jesus  and  send  back  his  life- 
currents  into  all  the  avenues,  and  channels,  and  capacites  of  your  being.  It  will 
give  to  your  practical  life,  thrift,  and  bloom,  and  fruitage,  crowned  with  a  large 
culture  of  Christ-like  development. 

^'Nave  faith  in  God."  And  it  will  give  you  to  be  rooted  and  grounded  in 
love, — energizing  the  forces  of  your  nature  with  an  invincible  stability. 

^^Have  faith  in  God."  And  it  will  lift  you  above  the  world — above  its 
tumult  and  strife — above  its  sordid  pursuits  and  dissipations — above  its  sins,  and 
sorrows,  and  debasements,  and  finally  it  will  send  you  sweeping  through  the 
gates  washed  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb ;  and  then  it  will  set  you  to  i-inging  on 
and  on  forever.  '•  ITnto  him  that  loved  us  and  washed  us  from  our  sins  in  his 
own  blood.     To  him  be  glory  and  dominion  forever." 

To  an  observant  mind,  the  scene  during  the  delivery  of  Dr.  Lowrey's  ser- 
mon was  more  than  ordinarily  impressive.  The  congregation  had  greatly  in- 
creased. Much  of  the  pre-occupation  attendant  on  persons  arriving  and 
getting  settled  on  the  ground  had  given  place  to  a  full  and  hearty  interest 
in  the  religious  services.  It  was  evident  from  the  almo.st  breathless  atten- 
tion given  to  the  exposition  of  the  Word,  that  the  subject  and  its  manner  of 
presentation  were  of  an  absorbing  character.  Gleams  of  intelligent  apprecia- 
tion flashed  like  sunlight  over  the  faces  of  the  listening  throng.     Long- 


46  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

Standing  difficulties,  to  a  clear  understanding  and  personal  exercise  of  faith, 
suddenly  gave  way.  Into  the  "  open  door,"  which  became  apparent,  eager 
souls  were  ready  to  enter.  Self-sufficiency,  human  contrivance,  and  all  the 
hindrances  to  God's  effectual  influence  in  saving  men,  for  the  moment  seemed 
obliterated.  Pride,  the  last  stronghold  of  the  spirit  that  works  disobedience, 
was  prostrate  in  the  dust,  and  when  the  proposition  was  made  by  Mr.  Inskip, 
who  during  the  day  superintended  all  the  public  exercises,  that  those  present 
who  would  test  the  value  of  faith,  and  prove  the  wonderful  power  of  Grod 
in  their  present  and  full  salvation,  would  rise  up,  the  movement  was  quite 
general.  While  hundreds  were  on  their  feet,  and  by  this  act  of  prompt 
obedience,  helped  into  light  and  liberty,  the  many  who  feared  to  venture  or 
commit  themselves,  appeared  to  feel  reproved  for  their  timidity. 

•'  Do  you  now  believe  ?"  was  asked.  Some  went  so  far  as  to  speak  out 
audibly  declaring  they  did.  "  But  what  of  those  who  have  not  risen  ?  "  in- 
quired Mr.  I.  ''Let  us  vary  the  question.  0  do  not  doubt  God;  do  anything 
rather  than  doubt  his  veracity.  Now  all  who  will  not  doubt  God,  rise  to 
your  feet."  This  form  of  the  question  brought  a  number  up.  "  Now  a  step 
farther;  you  declare  you  will  not  doubt — will  you  trust  him  to  save  you  this 
moment?" 

"  Do  you  believe  he  is  able  ?" 

"Yes"— "I  do  "—"So  do  I." 

"  Very  well;  is  he  not  willing?" 

"Yes." 

"  Now  believe  he  doetli  it,  and  you  are  saved." 

"  Let  us  kneel  down.  Lord,  here  we  are  a  believing  company.  We  aban- 
don every  subterfuge,  and  look  to  thee  alone.  Save  now,  we  beseech  thee. 
Thou  art  saving,  we  are  receiving.     0  yes,  we  trust " — 

"  In  the  promises  I  trust. 

Now  I  feel  the  blood  applied ; 
I  am  prostrate  in  the  dust, 

I  with  Christ  am  crucified. 
"  Here,  I  give  my  all  to  thee, — 

Frieuds  and  time  and  earthly  store, 
Soul  and  body  thine  to  be — 

Wholly  thine — forever  more. 
"  I  am  trusting  Lord  in  thee, 

Dear  Lamb  of  Calvary, 
Only  at  thy  cross  I  bow, 

Jesus  saves,  lie  saves  mo  now. 
"Jesus  comes,  he  fills  my  soul, 

Perfected  in  love  I  am  ; 
.   I  am  every  whit  made  whole, 

Glory,  glory  to  tlie  Lamb  ! " 

At  this  point,  the  exclamation  "glory,"  was  repeated  and  prolonged;  for 
a  new  experience  had  burst  in  upon  believing  brethren  and  sisters,  and  joy 
like  an  ocean  began  to  pervade  their  minds  and  hearts.  In  this  spirit  the 
doxology  was  sung  and  the  services  were  formally  concluded ;  but  for  half 
an  hour  or  more,  groups  remained  about  the  altar.  Here  and  there  the  soul- 
struggle  had  not  subsided.  Encouraging  promises  and  cheerful  songs  were 
repeated  as  helps  to  the  doubting,  and  assurance  to  penitent  sinners,  who 
were  forward  at  every  service,  that  "  Now  is  the  day  of  salvation." 


A   MODERN  PENTECOST.  47 

THURSDAY  EVENING. 
SERMON  BY  REV.  W.  L.  GRAY,  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

^'And  to  know  the  love  of  Christ." — Eph.  3  :  19. 

God  is  only  known  in-  Christ:  he  is  only  approachable  in  Christ;  only  in 
Christ  is  there  any  possible  realization  for  us  that  he  is  our  Saviour.  The 
prayer  of  the  Apostle  was  uttered  by  the  consciousness  of  the  knowledge  of 
this;  and  this  same  prayer  has  been  instrumental  in  guiding  souls  into  the 
enjoyment  of  the  fullness  of  God.  For  this  cause,  said  Paul,  in  behalf  of 
the  Ephesians,  "  I  bow  my  knees  to  the  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
of  whom  the  whole  family  in  heaven  and  earth  is  named,  that  he  would 
grant  you,  according  to  the  riches  of  his  glory,  to  be  strengthened  with 
might  by  his  spirit  in  the  inner  man,  that  Christ  may  dwell  in  your  hearts 
by  faith,  that  ye  being  rooted  and  grounded  in  love,  may  be  able  to  compre- 
hend with  all  saints  what  is  the  breadth  and  length  and  depth  and  height; 
and  to  know  the  love  of  Christ,  which  passeth  knowledge,  that  ye  might  be 
filled  with  the  fullness  of  God." 

My  friends,  if  I  shall  not  be  able  to  give  you  much  of  a  sermon,  I  am 
able  to  give  you  a  great  text,  a  text  which  has  been  a  blessing  to  so  many 
and  may  be  a  blessing  to  you  to-night.  I  present  to  you  a  theme  of  beauty, 
the  love  of  Christ.  It  is  a  theme  that  Christian  ministers  have  always  de- 
lighted to  dwell  upon;  its  force  and  power  is  exhaustless. 

It  is  wonderful  and  incomprehensible  in  its  compass.  We  cannot  tell 
where  to  fix  the  bounds  of  that  love;  the  sublime  vision  of  it  is  most  glori- 
ously displayed  in  all  the  realms  of  light,  whither  the  range  of  human 
knowledge  may  lead  us.  We  do  not  know  whether  angels  and  the  heavenly 
orders  have  any  experience  of  it  or  not,  but  we  believe  that  it  is  revealed  to 
all  intelligence  in  the  universe  of  God,  and  that  revelation  is  in  accordance 
with  the  measure  of  the  requirement  of  each  in  his  immortal  necessities. 
It  may  be  that  the  heavenly  beings  of  another  nature  may  not  be  capable  of 
so  understanding  and  valueing  it  because  of  their  nature  and  condition;  the 
leanifestation  may  be  less  to  them ;  but  we  do  know  that  he  has  revealed 
that  love  to  us,  as  a  love  incomprehensible  in  its  depth  and  boundless  in  its 
compass. 

It  is  boundless,  in  that  it  is  extended  to  us  in  all  conditions  of  our  being, 
and  comes  freely  to  all  the  human  race ;  to  illustrate  the  attribute  of  com- 
passion as  existing  in  the  bosom  of  God,  and  the  relation  we  sustain  to  him 
as  creatures  bearing  in  their  creation  his  own  image.  It  is  boundless  because 
the  subjects  of  Christ's  love  experience  his  grace  in  an  invariable  degree, 
manifested  in  the  processes  of  the  development  of  the  race,  amid  the  fail- 
ures of  individuals,  the  rejection  of  his  ofi"ers  of  mercy  and  the  aversion  of 
the  soul  to  his  gracious  work. 

The  love  of  Christ  is  disinterested.  I  know  that  some  have  given  expres- 
sion to  the  notion  that  everything  that  God  has  done  through  Christ  in  the 


48  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

manifestation  of  his  love,  and  the  exercises  of  his  mercy,  has  connected  with 
it  some  ulterior  purpose  that  pertains  to  the  relation  of  other  intelligences 
under  God's  universal  dominion.  But  I  look  upon  the  whole  process  of  the 
manifestation  of  divine  love  as  manifesting  that  the  intention  of  God  is  to 
save  man,  and  to  show  what  is  the  character  of  the  plan  of  salvation. 

'J'he  love  of  Christ  is  not  exhibited  to  show  the  God-side  of  the  great 
scheme  of  human  redemption,  but  the  man-side.  God  could  have  mani- 
fested his  love  by  the  constantantly  repeated  act  of  the  creation  of  new 
worlds  and  orders  of  beings,  by  giving  birth  to  new  natures  conceivable  in  the 
divine  mind,  and  numberless  worlds  springing  into  order  and  being,  leaping 
forth  from  his  all-forming  hand,  or  breathed  into  beiag  from  the  word  of  his 
mouth;  these  would  show  his  power  and  love,  but  they  could  not  illustrate 
the  love  of  Christ  in  dying  to  save  us.  Some  say  that  there  is  such  pecu- 
liarity in  the  scheme  of  human  redemption,  that  it  is  hard  to  accept  it;  that 
God  has  made  only  a  partial  redemption  for  his  family ;  that  only  the  hu- 
man race  is  included  in  the  divine  conception  of  a  provided  Saviour,  passing 
by  the  angels  who  kept  not  their  first  estate,  and  taking  h^ld  of  man  who 
too  had  fallen.  I  am  not  prepared  to  accept  that  position.  I  do  not  know 
what  God  has  in  store  for  others  of  his  fallen  creatures.  The  Bible  was  not 
made  for  angels  but  for  men.  Who  knows  what  may  be  the  divine  revela- 
tion to  others  ?  As  it  comes  to  men  it  tells  us  this  wondrous  story  of  Jesus 
and  his  love ;  a  love  interposing  to  save  us  when  we  were  strangers  to  his 
ways,  and  disobedient  to  his  call. 

When  we  consider  the  condition  of  the  love  of  Christ,  its  manifestations 
are  all  full  with  wonder.  Christ's  love  is  love  in  action,  moving  the  divine 
heart,  and  plan,  and  purpose,  to  work  for  our  eternal  well  being.  Love  in 
men  takes  the  form  in  some  of  its  highest  moods  simply,  of  deep  enjoy- 
ment, but  love  in  Christ  takes  the  form  of  active  goodness.  Now  this  is 
manifested  towards  a  race  in  which  there  is  no  one  quality  of  goodness  or 
qualification  for  the  reciprocal  development  of  this  holy  passion.  There  is 
nothing  in  us  that  is  lovable,  nothing  reciprocative  of  his  love.  In  the  view 
of  this  fact  we  hear  the  Apostle  of  the  Gentiles  saying,  "For  scarcely  for 
a  righteous  man  will  one  die,  yet  peradventure  for  a  good  man  some  would 
even  dare  to  die  ;  but  God  commendeth  his  love  toward  us  in  that  while  we 
were  yet  sinners  Christ  died  for  us."  When  we  were  in  active  rebellion 
against  the  government  of  God,  arraigning  the  principles  of  his  administra- 
tion, impugning  his  actions,  despisiug  his  mercy,  and  cherishing  in  our 
bosoms  and  actualizing  by  our  lives,  principles  in  antagonism  to  his  law^ 
iiuthority  and  love,  he  loved  us  with  a  love  that  hastened  him  from  his  throne 
over  all  principalities,  potencies  and  dominions,  to  die  the  ignominious  death 
of  a  felon  or  m  ilefactor  on  the  cross,  for  us,  and  our  salvati(m. 

Christ's  love  is  again  made  known  to  U3  when  wc  contrast  the  state  to  which 
we  are  brought  by  the  influence  of  his  love  upon  us,  with  our  pi'cvious  condition. 
Our  afibctions  and  consciences  have  been  reached  by  the  power  of  his  love. 
Those  bright  divine  rays  have  penetrated  the  darkness  of  our  state,  and  shown 
us  our  poor  defiled  hearts  ;  the  rays  thereof  beaming  forth  in  the  morning  of 
our  sj)iritnal  life,  have  waked  us  up  from  the  state  of  sin,  and  out  of  that  dark- 
ness (mierging,  we  have  seen  the  black  cloud  dissipated  by  the  brightness  of  his 
rising.  JJy  tlie  power  of  that  love  we  are  made  capajole  of  loving  him,  and 
under  its  exercise  we  do  love  him.     In   its  infinitude  it  has  covered  all  our 


A    MODERN   PENTECOST.  49 

former  loves,  all  our  black  lines  of  gloom,  all  blurs  in  our  nature,  and  all  de- 
formities of  character.  In  his  love  they  are  removed,  the  darkness  and  moral 
corruption  ceases,  and  we  live  a  new  and  heavenly  life. 

The  manifestation  of  that  love  has  been  so  wonderful  that  man  has  gained  by 
it,  in  Christ,  all  that  he  has  lost  in  Adam.  All  powers  of  loving,  serving  and 
delighting  in  God  are  restored  ;  and  there  is  no  capability  of  our  nature  but  is 
secured  to  us  in  blessing,  abundantly,  fully  and  throughout  eternity  by  the  love 
of  Christ.  We  not  only  have  as  much,  but  we  more  than  gain  everything  we 
have  lost  by  the  fall,  being  fully  restored  to  the  favor  and  companionship  of  God, 
walking  with  him  and  hearing  his  voice,  and  asserting  under  the  divine  authority 
our  privilege  of  access  to  the  tree  of  life.  Yes,  we  are  restored  to  a  greater 
dignity,  being  constituted  heirs  of  God,  and  co-heirs  with  his  eternal  Son,  born 
into  the  relation  of  kings  and  priests  unto  God  and  the  Father. 

The  love  of  Christ  is  most  plentiful,  exhaustless,  eternal  and  unchangeable. — 
Whatever  we  may  see  in  man  that  is  subject  to  change,  this  we  know,  the  love 
of  Christ  never  changes.  Some  men  are  at  first  able  to  make  plans  that  are 
most  extensive,  and  if  carried  forward  to  execution,  their  operation  could  bear 
the  marks  of  durability,  but  as  their  work  grows  on  their  hands,  they  either 
change  in  this  or  that,  or  are  so  involved  themselves  that  they  cannot  carry  out. 
their  original  designs ;  or  learning  of  that  which  will  be  better  adapted  to  the 
end  sought,  alter  the  whole  scheme  in  which  they  were  interested  at  the  outset ; 
but  there  is  no  change  in  the  love  of  Jesus;  nor  in  the  plan  that  love  devised; 
nor  in  the  power  to  bring  to  its  most  glorious  consummation  the  plan  that  love 
devised.  The  apostle  looked  at  it  in  its  stupendous  proportions,  its  altitude, 
depth,  length,  breadth,  and  force.  The  grandeur  and  sublimity  of  the  thing 
before  him,  so  enwrapped  him  within  the  folds  of  its  own  sweet  mysteriousness, 
that  he  could  only  say,  "to  know  the  love  of  Christ  that  passeth  knowledge." 
His  difficulty  is  not  remarkable,  for  the  knowledge  of  a  thing  as  existing  and 
conferring  benefits,  may  be  attained,  when  the  depth,  height,  length,  and  breadth 
of  the  thing  itself  may  not  be  comprehended  or  gi-asped  by  us.  O,  that  we  may 
know  that  love,  though  we  may  not  comprehend  what  it  fully  is ! 

Now  we  know  that  there  are  three  media  by  which  love  manifests  itself: 
namely,  by  intuition,  to  the  outward  senses,  and  by  experience.  Love  may  exist 
through  one  of  these,  or  may  come  to  us  through  all  these  media ;  they  are  all 
found  in  the  love  of  Christ.  It  addresses  itself  to  the  self-consciousness  when 
the  revealment  of  the  divine  compassion  is  made,  and  there  is  the  counter-part 
already  implanted  in  the  consciousness.  The  receptivity  is  possessed,  and  it 
reflects  through  and  through  the  soul,  so  that  as  soon  as  the  object,  Christ,  is 
presented  to  the  subject,  man,  there  is  a  feeling  intuitively  arising,  which  delights 
in  the  knowledge  of  his  love.  It  immediately  perceives  that  the  fountain  is 
deep  enough  and  wide  enough  to  supply  all  the  wants  of  the  soul,  and  it  plunges 
in  and  is  washed  and  filled,  purified  and  saved.  So  when  the  voice  speaks  to 
the  Christian  saying,  "Sinners  plunged  beneath  that  flood,  lose  all  their  guilty 
stains,"  the  soul  cries  out,  "  That  means  me,  it  meets  my  case;"  betakes  hold  by 
faith,  and  rejoices  with  joy  unspeakable. 

The  love  of  Christ  may  be  exhibited  to  the  senses,  by  the  order,  harmony  and 
beauty  of  the  world,  which  he  has  made  for  the  purpose  of  manifesting  himself 
to  man,  in  its  grandeur,  its  magnificence  and  its  perpetuity.  So  also  the  Word 
of  God,  containing  the  precious  promises  and  divine  precepts,  which  are  designed 
to  make  us  wise  unto  salvation.  These  we  can  see  or  hear,  or  feel  until  their 
4 


50  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

objective  power  shall  come  into  the  soul,  revealing  through  the  senses  the  amaz- 
ing love  of  Christ.  David  said,  under  the  benign  influences  of  these  manifesta- 
tions, "  O  Lord,  our  Lord,  how  excellent  is  thy  name  in  all  the  earth.  When 
I  consider  thy  heavens,  the  moon  and  stars  which  thou  hast  ordained,  what  is 
man  that  thou  art  mindful  of  him  ;"  or  again,  "  the  entrance  of  thy  word  giveth 
light ;"  "  open  mine  eyes  that  I  may  see  the  beauties  of  thy  law."  It  is  a  medium 
of  value  to  us  that  we  can  see  God  thus  objectively,  and  love  him.  Perchance 
we  do  love  ;  perchance  these  wonders  and  delights  are  a  living  realization  to  the 
soul,  that  come  with  force  enough  to  fill  it. 

A  blind  preacher  standing  and  declaring  the  word  of  life,  may  be  affected 
by  the  sympathy  of  his  hearers,  and  the  precious  word  may  be  more  thrill- 
ingly  powerful  in  his  heart,  because  he  feels  that  sympathy;  he  may  express 
truly  the  conviction  of  his  soul  because  he  feels  the  truth,  and  under  the 
powerful  operation  of  the  blessed  spirit  he  may  feel  his  soul  to  be  fall  of 
hope,  and  may  impart  of  that  fullness  to  others. 

But  there  is  still  a  blessed  medium  through  which  this  love  is  communi- 
cated ;  it  is  realized  in  the  experience  of  the  believing  soul,  which  actualizes 
in  our  hearts  all  the  objects  of  sense,  and  verifies  the  intuitions  that  seem  to 
have  been  born  within  us.  Hence  we  have  the  spirit  of  God  witnessing 
with  our  spirit,  coming  to  bring  to  us  the  report  of  the  work  of  God  in  the 
conversion,  adoption,  regeneration  and  sanctification  of  the  believing  soul. 
Here  on  the  heart  is  left  the  experience  of  that  love ;  but  who  can  tell  it, 
who  can  justly  declare  all  that  God  has  done  for  him  ?  We  may  know, 
therefore,  the  love  of  Christ. 

When  I  was  a  boy,  I  was  watching  by  the  bedside  of  my  precious  mother. 
Her  physician,  who  was  a  good  man,  came  to  her,  and  seeing  her  prostrated, 
weak  and  wasting  away,  said,  "  You  are  very  weak,  but  Jesus,  I  trust,  is 
very  precious  to  you,  and  a  very  present  help  in  your  time  of  trouble."  After 
pointing  her  to  the  cross,  he  turned  to  me,  and  addressing  me  by  name,  told 
the  story  of  salvation  as  it  was  revealed  in  his  own  life.  That  story  won  my 
heart,  and  presenting  myself  to  God,  1  found  his  love  shed  abroad  therein. 
Glory  to  God  ! 

W^e  may  know  the  love  of  Christ  in  its  adaptation  to  our  condition  in 
every  possible  relation  that  we  may  sustain  to  the  whole  Christ  ion  system. 
It  is  the  principle  by  which  the  soul  is  purified ;  our  faith  working  by  love 
makes  the  dark  and  dreary  luminous  and  inviting.  It  is  this  love  that  is  so 
much  to  be  desired.  God's  glory  is  involved  in  it,  for  that  glory  is  more 
displayed  in  the  salvation  of  a  sinner  than  in  the  creation  of  a  world.  God 
comes  nearer  to  us,  we  find  out  more  fully  what  he  is,  than  in  the  most  glori- 
ous display  to  us  in  any  part  of  his  vast  works.  He  is  to  us  in  our  salvation 
what  he  cannot  be  to  the  world  in  all  the  acts  of  his  creating  energy. 

The  love  of  Christ,  in  the  experience  of  believers,  is  a  love  that  is  capable 
of  measuring  up  to  all  their  need  and  all  the  possibilities  of  their  being.  There 
is  nothing  insignificant,  nothing  little  or  of  little  worth  in  his  love  to  us; 
and  it  is  just  here  that  we  may  stand  and  appreciate  and  approve  the  work 
of  God,  for  as  we  fall  in  with  the  work  of  redemption,  just  in  the  same  way 
we  approach  the  point  of  being  filled  with  all  the  fullness  of  God.  If  we  are 
fully  sanctified  to  God,  we  shall  appreciate  what  is  this  fullness,  for  we  must 
know  the  love  of  Christ  before  we  can  be  filled  with  all  the  fullness  of  God.  If 
sanctified  to  him,  if  his  love   has   complete  sway  in  our  hearts,  if  it  reigns 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  51 

there,  governing  soul,  body  and  spirit,  what'  more  can  we  look  for  ?  Then  we 
can  be  perfect  as  our  Father  in  heaven  is  perfect,  ready  for  any  operation  of 
the  love  of  Grod  in  its  fullness.  If  I  have  any  idea  at  all  on  this  subject  it 
this:  that  the  entirely  sanctified  man  is  just  in  the  condition  in  which  he 
may  stretch  out  and  expand  farther  and  farther  ;  then  he  is  ready  for  depths, 
lengths  and  heights. 

God  granting  to  us  his  fullness,  by  the  knowledge  of  Christ's  love,  vouch- 
safes to  us  the  light  by  which  we  can  walk  safely,  and  discover  all  things 
around  and  in  us.  Light  cheers,  clears  up  our  pathway,  shows  us  how  to 
avoid  obstructions,  gleams  into  the  future,  and  casts  its  rays  beyond  the 
bounds  of  our  present  horizon  of  vision,  so  that  walking  we  walk  in  the  light, 
or  standing  we  stand  in  the  light,  or  searching  for  the  divine  will  we  search  in 
the  light.  But  you  say,  can  God  so  light  up  the  mind  as  to  give  a  perfect 
knowledge  of  himself  to  man  so  that  he  may  not  fall  into  error  and  sin  ? 
We  answer,  Christ  is  the  light  that  lighteth  every  man  that  cometh  into  the 
world.  If  he  lighteth  up  the  mind  in  the  darkness  of  sin,  so  that  the  way 
to  the  cross  is  seen,  there  is  no  limit  to  the  illumination  which  he  is  both 
able  and  willing  to  give  to  the  man  that  fully  relies  upon  his  word  and  spirit. 
0  my  hearers,  he  fills  every  thought,  and  so  reigns  in  his  fullness  that  every 
thought  may  begin  and  move  and  end  in  him.  He  can  so  revolutionize 
every  human  soul,  and  every  power  of  man,  that  he  shall  be  all  in  all.  But 
you  say  again,  this  is  a  high  experience — cannot  a  man  be  sanctified  fully  to 
God  if  this  be  his  privilege,  so  as  to  be  occupied  in  all  the  powers  of  his  soul 
and  nature  with  God  and  things  divine?  Yes,  blessed  be  God,  he  can  and 
ought  so  to  exercise  himself  in  these  God-given  powers  until  the  soul  can  say, 
"  Whom  have  t  in  heaven  but  thee;  and  there  is  none  upon  earth  that  I  de- 
sire besides  thee  ?" 

Cannot  a  man  possessing  this  fullness  so  live  that  his  communion  with  God 
will  be  uninterrupted  ?  You  will  not  even  in  this  life  find  yourself  in  that 
condition  in  which  you  will  not  encounter  difficulties,  temptations  and  trials; 
but  the  man  that  lives  up  to  his  privileges  will  be  saved  all  the  time,  and 
saved  in  all  the  possibilities  of  his  nature;  so  long  as  you  abide  in  Christ 
you  have  a  refuge  that  can  never  be  stormed.  The  sanctified  man  holds  that 
position,  not  once  for  all,  but  moment  hy  moment^  moment  hrj  moment^  in  the 
exercise  of  faith  in  the  strength  and  impregnability  of  his  refuge.  0,  there 
is  more  power  in  the  believer,  galvanized  into  the  fullness  of  God  by  the  love 
of  Christ,  than  there  is  in  anything  else  in  the  universe.  And  who  will  not 
have  it ;  now  there  is  room,  always  room.  If  you  want  to  be  filled  with 
light  and  purity,  come  to  this  feast.  If  you  want  to  be  filled  with  all  the 
fullness  of  God,  go  down,  down,  down,  until  you  know  the  love  of  Christ 
"  that  ye  may  be  filled  with  all  the  fullness  of  God." 

To  "be  filled,"  was  the  question  of  the  moment,  and  after  the  possibilities 
and  promises  bearing  on  the  point  had  been  pressed  home,  a  large  number 
of  earnest  souls  bowed  around  the  altar-place,  and  while  prayer  ascended 
blessings  came  down  as  the  dew  of  heaven,  sweetly  satisfying  their  lono-ino-s 
and  closing  the  day's  devotions  in  a  baptism  of  holy  love. 


52  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETINQ. 


THIRD  DAY. 

MEETING    AT    5    O'CLOCK,    A.    M. 

"  This  is  the  hour  for  prayer,"  remarked  Bro.  Boole,  who  had  charge 
of  the  morning  exercises.  "  Testimony  and  exhortation  may  incidentally  be 
allowed,  but  prayer  is  our  chief  business  now.  It  is  the  asking  ones  who 
get.     Let  us  pray." 

No  one  by  name  was  called  on  ;  but  eight  or  ten  persons  succeeded  each 
other,  asking  the  Father  for  Jesus'  sake  to  shed  abroad  his  love  in  their 
hearts  by  the  Holy  Grhost  given  unto  them. 

The  range  at  length  becoming  too  general  in  its  sweep,  Mr.  B.  said  : 
"  Look  to  your  own  individual  heart  wants.  The  best  way  to  convert  the 
world,  is  to  be  made  right  ourselves.  Let  us  confine  the  range  of  our  peti- 
tions to  personal  blessings,  present  power,  the  duties  of  this  day  on  which 
we  have  been  spared  to  enter,  and  not  go  over  the  whole  creation  in  our  reach 
of  thought.     Let  us  try  it  again,  all  kneeling  before  God.     Pray  on." 

*'  Fill  this  tabernacle  with  Thy  gracious  presence,  0  Jesus,"  pleaded 
Bro  Foote.  "  Make  the  place  glorious,  and  give  every  one  of  us  a  deeper 
plunge  in  the  open  fountain." 

"  Here,"  said  a  stranger,  "we  now  renew  our  consecration.  All  we  are, 
all  we  have,  or  hope,  we  give,  0  Lord,  to  thee,  through  Jesus  Christ. 
Amen  " 

Brother  Thompson — "  We  beseech  Thee  that  the  Holy  Ghost  may  rest  on 
all  who  preach  to-day,  on  all  who  lead  the  meetings,  and  on  all  who  attend 
them.  Let  souls  who  have  come  here  hungering  and  thirsting  after  right- 
eousness, be  filled.  Fill  us  now.  Many  long  to  be  sanctified,  and  came  for 
this  purpose.  0  Jesus,  apply  thine  own  blood,  and  wash  out  every  stain. 
Convert  sinners  all  around  us.  Help  everybody  to  improve  the  time,  and 
may  this  be  one  of  the  sweetest  and  best  days  we  have  ever  known." 

Brother  Boole — "  It  is  intimated  that  many  have  come  here  to  be  made 
holy.  This  is  the  grand  object  before  ue.  Two  things  are  necessary  in 
guiding  a  ship.  First,  keep  the  course  laid  down  on  the  chart ;  and,  sec- 
ondly, avoid  the  rocks  and  shoals  that  lie  hidden  about  us.  The  right  course 
is  to  seek  earnestly  for  sanctifying  power;  but  I  perceive  some  are  neariug 
dangerous  reefs  and  rocks.  You  mean  to  have  a  fullness  of  joy;  but  joy  is 
no  purity — yet  joy  comes  in  with  purity.  If  you  are  determined  to  get  up  an 
inward  commotion  somehow,  you  may  think  you  are  fully  saved  ;  but  when 
you  go  home  you  will  get  angry  again,  and  discover  that  the  work  is   not 


A    MODERN   PENTECOST.  53 

thoroughly  done.  A  National  Camp-meeting  is  not  salvation  ;  Christ  is.  You 
may  have  excitement  and  a  good  deal  of  it ;  but  to  be  wholly  sanctified 
implies  a  good  deal  of  sub-soil  ploughing — a  full  surrender  of  yourself,  con- 
secrating all  you  have,  and  are,  and  think  here,  and  also  everything  at  home. 

"  It  is  a  great  thing  to  be  saved.  Nobody  is  great  when  he  comes  to  the 
cross ;  that  levels  all  to  one  platform.  A  man  must  go  down,  if  he  would  be 
taken  up  by  Christ.  You  are  all,  and  here  I  include  myself,  the  meanest 
kind  of  creatures.  How  honored  we  are  that  God  touches  us  at  all — that 
He  takes  hold  of  us  lovingly  to  help  us — yes,  that  in  our  uncleanness,  his 
eyes  pity,  and  that  he  washes  us  '  whiter  than  snow.'  0  how  we  ought  to 
jump  at  the  chance  ! 

"  '  But  it  is  so  hard,'  you  say,  '  to  give  up  everything.'  Well,  make  it 
easy — -just  do  it.  What  have  you,  anyhow  ?  To  hear  people  talk  about  con- 
secrating all,  and  giving  up  all  to  the  Lord,  reminds  me  of  a  poor,  old,  col- 
ored pauper,  who  had  been  picked  up  and  placed  in  a  comfortable  asylum, 
where  his  every  need  was  furnished  him  by  the  bounty  of  charitable  friends. 
He,  in  giving  his  experience,  talked  about  what  he  had  to  give  up  !  So 
with  the  poor  paupers  in  my  church  in  New  York.  They  may  have  the 
control  of  millions,  and  have  what  is  called  a  high  social  position  ;  but  after 
all,  they  have  nothing.  It  is  all  the  Lord's.  The  trouble  is  in  self  The 
clinging  is  here.  Self  must  be  given  up  entirely.  No  use  to  think  of 
advance  unless  we  leave  off  all  our  sins.  People  talk  about  reputation,  and 
some  preachers  seem  to  find  this  bubble  reputation  a  severe  test.  Grod  pity 
our  folly  !  I  never  had  any  until  Jesus  gave  me  grace.  Don't  bother  your- 
self about  that. 

"  Now  you  come  to  a  place  where  your  mind  is  made  up  to  have  this 
blessing,  and  you  feel  you  can  do  nothing.  Well,  do  notliincj.  It  is  God 
that  worketh  in  you,  to  will  and  to  do  of  his  own  good  pleasure.  Let  him  give 
you  power.  A  man  is  sanctified  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  the  witness  will  be 
given.  '  You  can't  get  along  without  the  witness.  You  must  trust;  but 
trusting  isn't  salvation.  Something  comes  of  our  trusting  and  we  know  it. 
Believe  then,  once  for  all.  A  business  man  having  plenty  of  money  in  bank 
and  wishing  to  draw  a  needed  amount,  will  make  one  check  and  sign  it — not 
several.  You  need  not  repeat  the  act  of  believing — believe  now.  Emotion  ? 
No  emotion  is  necessary  here.  It  is  faith  in  God — naked  faith.  I  do  not 
say  '  dare  to  believe.'  There  is  no  daring  in  the  case  of  believing  a  truth — 
all  safe  here.  You  need  not  go  out  of  this  meeting  without  the  Holy  Ghost. 
God  will  give  it,  and  in  half  an  hour  every  one  of  you  desiring  it,  while  ye 
pray,  shall  receive  it. 

"  If  not,  there  is  a  forbidden  something  in  the  way.  The  price  is  not 
paid.     God  deals  in  a  business-like  way.     Now  take  the  blood  of  Christ ;  let 


54  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

it  cover  you  all  over,  and  the  answer  comes  into  your  soul,  '  It  is  done.'  Oh, 
this  general  weakness  among  us,  in  our  churches,  and  in  our  endeavors — all 
is  by  reason  of  the  lack  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Our  difficulties  would  all  van- 
ish if  we  were  clear  and  honest  in  submitting  to  God.  Then  how  easy  the 
work  might  go  forward.  Let  us  banish  these  misgivings  by  a  clean  sweep 
just  now.  You  have  your  check.  Go  to  the  bank  and  draw  what  you  need. 
Take  your  time  at  the  preparation.  Be  deliberate,  careful,  thorough,  but 
when  prepared,  then  it  is  short  work. 

"It  is  just  as  easy  to  cast  the  whole  cargo  overboard  at  once  as  to  be 
dragging  out  a  part  of  it  to-day  and  a  little  more  to-morrow.  Do  the  thing 
fully,  and  the  Holy  Ghost  will  wonderfully  fill  the  cleansed  teu)ple  of  your 
heart. 

"Now  go  on,  if  you  have  anything  to  say." 

A  Baptist  minister — "  Light  has  come  to  me  through  our  dear  brother's 
earnest  exhortation.  My  views  have  been  confused  about  this  matter  of 
consecration  and  faith.  I  now  see  clearly  how  it  is.  We  are  redeemed  by 
promise  and  power.  We  come  by  promise  and  trust  for  power,  and  both  are 
backed  by  Almightiness.  0,  thank  God  for  such  a  Gospel,  and  such  a  way 
of  deliverance  from  sin  and  pollution,  as  is  plainly  revealed  here!" 

A  sister  had  espoused  Jesus  amid  persecution,  but  God  made  her  strong 
to  endure  the  cross.  Her  attention  was  directed  to  heart-purity  as  a  privi- 
lege, by  reading  some  old  numbers  of  the  Guide  to  Holiness  which  she  found 
in  a  garret.  There  alone  she  sought,  and  God  gave  her  the  blessing.  By 
timidity  in  regard  to  confessing  what  had  been  done  for  her,  darkness  came, 
and  the  evidence  faded  away.  In  great  heaviness  she  passed  through  her 
household  duties,  until  one  day  she  knelt  down  behind  the  stove  and  cried 
out  for  a  restoration  of  the  power.  The  Spirit  came  into  her  heart  and  filled 
her  again  with  perfect  love.  She  went  out  to  class  and  confessed  to  the  glory 
of  God,  and  the  baptism  cau-e  on  all  present.  She  was  taken  sick  and  had 
been  an  invalid  seven  years.  Through  all,  God  had  sustained  her,  and  enabled 
her  to  testify  of  this  grace.  They  thought  her  entire  sanctification  was  only 
a  preparation  for  approaching  death;  but  the  Lord  had  restored  her,  to  show 
that  it  was  for  living  as  well  as  dying.  The  word  of  her  testimony  had  been 
blessed.  Seven  girls  who  had  lived  in  her  family,  and  three  young  men  had 
been  converted.  During  the  past  fall  and  winter  God  had  answered  her 
prayers  in  the  salvation  of  over  one  hundred  precious  souls. 

"  One  word  will  express  my  state  just  now — saved." 

"  I  ciuue,  as  Bro.  Boole  said,  feeling  I  was  a  poor  pauper.  Christ  accepted 
mc  and  clothed  me  in  his  righteousness.  I  have  discovered  that  the  way  to  live 
this  sanctification  is  to  let  self  move  out,  and  Jesus  come  in.  With  him  in  my 
heart  I  have  every  want  more  than  supplied.  '  I  live,  yet  not  I,  but  Christ 
liveth  in  me.'     Bless  his  name  !  " 


A    MODERN   PENTECOST.  55 

"  The  thouglit  flashed  on  me  with  pecuHar  force  a  moment  since — '  Jesus 
loves  even  me.'  The  brother  (Boole)  touched  on  some  things  this  morning, 
which  afford  me  great  help.  The  difference  between  faith  and  knowledge  in  this 
matter  of  salvation  is,  to  use  the  '  check'  illustration — with  faith  we  present  the 
check,  and  when  we  get  the  'greenbacks,'  faith  yields  to  knowledge.  Jesus  lets 
me  fill  out  the  check.  He  is  cashier  and  proprietor,  and  his  name  is  signed  to 
it,  and  good  for  any  amount.  I  believe  this.  He  saved  me,  a  poor  sailor — dirty 
and  dissipated  as  I  was.  I  couldn't  then  read  my  own  name ;  but  he  took  me 
up  where  I  have  learned  some  sweet  lessons.  Every  day  I  only  have  to  hand 
out  the  faith  check  and  receive  the  blessings.  I  say  to  all  here,  give  up,  and 
you  will  get  Jesus.  Some  bones  will  be  broken,  but  no  matter.  Lord,  kill  and 
make  alive !" 

"  Self  is  all  on  the  altar;  I  know  it  is.  Now  I  take  up  my  cross  to  follow 
Jesus." 

"  I  have  a  calm,  sweet  assurance  that  the  blood  cleanses  me  from  all  sin." 

Mr.  Boole — "  There  may  be  some  here  who  have  received  the  blessing  since 
they  came  on  the  ground.  We  give  way  to  them  a  little.  The  short  way  to 
receiving  is  faith,  the  safe  way  of  continuance  is  confession.  It  is  easier  to  keep 
out  condemnation,  than  to  get  clear  of  it.  Excuse  me.  /  do  not  call  it  a  cross 
to  tell  the  world  Jesus  saves  me." 

This  brought  to  their  feet  several  persons  ;  some  of  whom,  it  appeared,  had 
been  blessed  at  the  first  service  ;  others  on  the  previous  day  and  evening  ;  but 
all  timid  about  acknowledging  the  work.  One  had  been  troubled  about  emotion, 
but  now  saw  the  snare  of  the  tempter,  who  suggested — "  you  do  not  feel  thus 
and  so,  and  you  had  better  wait  until  you  reach  home  before  you  profess  to 
have  been  sanctified." 

"  For  two  years,"  said  a  sister,  "  I  have  been  enabled  to  witness  a  good  pro- 
fession at  home,  through  the  keeping  power  of  Christ." 

Mr.  Boole — "  I  am  glad  that  sister  referred  to  her  religion  at  home.  It  is 
but  a  poor  degree  of  justification  that  will  not  enable  us  to  live  right  at  home. 
The  family  circle  is  the  hardest  place  and  the  best  place  to  live  it.  But  don't 
get  confused  about  the  question  before  us.  Get  all  devil-work  out  of  the  heart, 
and  see  how  quickly  you  can  appropriate  this  great  gospel  privilege.  It  helped 
my  own  faith,  and  it  may  help  yours,  so  I  will  relate  a  little  incident: 

"  A  Baptist  lady,  who  had  long  hesitated  to  trust  God  for  the  full  mea- 
sure of  the  sanctifying  spirit,  was  asked  by  her  little  boy  one  day  for  some- 
thing to  eat.  She  promised  it,  but  continued  at  her  employment  and  forgot 
the  matter  for  a  time.  The  little  fellow  seemed  also  to  forget,  as  he  con- 
tinued intent  upon  his  play  with  toys  upon  the  carpet.  After  awhile  she 
thought  of  his  request,  and  hastily  procured  and  handed  him  the  cake.  He 
took  it,  looking  up  innocently  into  her  face,  and  saying,  '  I  knew  you  would, 


/ 

56  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL    CAMP-MEETING. 

mother.'  This  to  her  was  a  timely  les.son.  She  felt  reproved  before  God 
that  she  could  not  trust  his  word,  and  just  then  looking  up  received  the  full 
ness  of  his  love.  Go  and  do  likewise.  Your  God  is  more  willing  to  bless 
than  you  can  be  to  receive." 

The  "  little  incident  "  made  tears  come  freely,  and  won  many  reluctant 
souls  to  an  immediate  act  of  trust,  which  had  its  effect,  as  instanced  in  the 
genuine  earnestness  with  which  the  doxology  was  then  sung : 

I  God  from  whom  all  blessings  flow,"  &c. 


THE    EIGHT    0  CLOCK    PRAYER-MEETING. 

Soon  after  breakfast  several  persons  were  engaged  in  tacking  up  the  chart 
with  Scripture  mottoes,  upon  the  rear  of  the  pulpit. 

When  the  bell  had  summoned  the  congregation  for  morning  prayers.  Rev. 
J.  S.  Inskip  gave  an  interesting  account  of  the  chart  before  us.  He  said, 
in  order  to  meet  the  expenses  of  the  cost  of  the  "  Tabernacle,"  he  had  writ- 
ten to  a  large  number  of  persons  of  all  denominations,  soliciting  donations 
and  requesting  also  that  they  should  send  him  a  verse  of  Holy  Scripture 
that  most  clearly  expressed  their  experience,  and  that  gave  them  most  com- 
fort at  the  time  of  writing.  Out  of  the  very  many  responses  the  passages 
printed  on  the  chart  were  taken. 

After  the  description  of  the  chart  and  the  recounting  of  the  history  of  its 
origin,  the  congregation  joined  in  singing,  Bro.  Inskip  then  said — 
"  Let  me  suggest  before  you  go  to  prayer  that  you  select  some  promise  on 
that  canvas ;  but  don't  look  to  the  chart  for  anything  you  want.  Look  to 
God.  0  Lord,  write  thy  promises  on  our  hearts  to-day  !"  The  first  prayer 
was  made  by  Bro.  Perkins.  Many  hearts  were  thrilled  as  he  said:  "This 
is  a  very  needy  time  with  us.  An  hour  ago  thou  didst  bless  us  at  the  meet- 
ing; we  want  more  power — we  come  to  thee  to  be  supplied.  It  is  not  wrong 
in  us  to  covet  earnestly  the  best  gifts  of  thy  grace,  and  to  exercise  them  to 
thy  glory.  May  the  blessed  Holy  Spirit  select  for  us  that  promise  that  shall 
fill  our  hearts  with  its  richness,  and  while  trusting,  come  and  visit  us  with 
thy  salvation.  We  come  to  thee  polluted  and  defiled,  to  be  washed  in  the 
blood  of  Christ.  Speak  the  cleansing  word.  Make  us  free  from  the  bond- 
age of  sin,  fill  us  with  the  love  of  heaven;  and  bless  and  sanctify  every 
preacher  on  the  ground,  every  class-leader  on  the  ground,  every  steward  on 
the  ground,  every  Sunday-school  superintendent  on  the  ground,  every  mem- 
ber of  the  Church  on  the  ground.     Lord,  sanctify  the  whole  Church  !" 

While  these  petitions  were  ascending  the  "  Aniens"  became  more  and  more 
hearty  until  the  close:  then,  in  the  midst  of  the  enthusiasm,  the  people  still 
kneeling,  Bro.  Inskip  was  heard  exclaiming,  "  Are  you  trusting  the  word  of 
promise?" 


A    MODERN    PENTECOST.  57 

Brother  Perry  prayed  :  "Thou  art  the  source  of  our  strength,  0,  Jesus  !  we 
are  looking  to  thee.  Thou  art  our  Saviour,  our  Redeemer.  Thou  art  our  living, 
loving  Benefactor  to  give  good  gifts  to  us.  Thou  hast  never  failed  us.  0, 
manifest  thyself  now  to  us  through  the  Holy  Ghost.  Thou  hast  bid  us  ask  of 
thee.  We  do  ask  for  the  grandest  baptism  we  have  ever  received.  Thou  art 
honored  by  our  confidence,  which  thou  so  freely  invitest.  Lord,  help  us  to  tell 
thee  all,  to  trust  thee  fully ;  that,  filled  with  the  Holy  Spirit,  we  may  realize  God 
is  all  in  all.     Amen." 

Brother  Inskip  then  introduced  an  experience  meeting,  urging  the  propriety 
of  forgetting  self,  and  acknowledging  what  the  Lord  had  done  for  us.  H  is  own 
testimony  was,  "  Saved  through  the  blood  of  the  Lamb." 

"  This  fountain  ever  springing,"  said  a  brother,  "  is  no  fancy  picture.  It  is 
to  me  a  reality.     I  find  it  fresh  and  pure  every  day,  and  it  seems  to  get  sweeter." 

Mr.  Inskip — "  It  is  just  so  with  me.  It  gets  better,  and  makes  me  better. 
Glory  to  God!" 

A  preacher,  converted  forty  years  ago,  went  to  Vineland,  and  returned  with 
a  richer  experience.  The  members  of  his  charge  were  glad  he  had  launched 
out  into  deep  water,  and  could  now  lead  and  encourage  them  in  holiness. 

.  Another  referred  to  working  power.  God  had  given  her  one  hundred  souls 
last  season,  and  she  wanted  a  deeper  baptism  for  usefulness. 

A  Presbyterian  minister  told  his  joy  in  knowing  Jesus  as  a  full  Saviour. 
"  He  saves  me  every  moment."  This  was  Rev.  Bro.  White,  who  subse- 
quently became  "  filled  with  the  Spirit,"  which  moved  him  to  prayer  for  his  own 
congregation,  that  every  member  might  be  sanctified ;  for  the  whole  denomina- 
tion, and  for  all  churches,  pastors,  and  people.  All  knelt  while  his  earnest  soul 
went  up  to  God.  He  closed  by  reconsecrating  his  life  to  the  promotion  of 
holiness,  and  there  were  loud  responses,  and  melting  emotions. 

An  official  editor  of  the  M.  E.  Church  next  arose.  He  declared  himself  to 
be  an  incontestible  monument  of  the  mercy  of  God,  proving  that  there  was  no 
case  too  hard  for  Jesus  to  convert  or  to  sanctify.  Unbelief  had  paralized  every 
fibre  of  his  nature,  yet  he  yearned,  0,  how  constantly,  for  soul-rest.  He  described 
the  place  and  circumstances  of  his  conversion,  his  call  to  preach,  his  early  trials, 
and  his  conscious  need  of  holiness.  This  void  was  now  filled.  Satan  dare  not 
intimate  that  he  was  deceived.   % 

Sister  Baldwin  said  these  old  hymns,  "  For  ever  here  my  rest  shall  be,"  &c., 
taught  her  the  blessed  way  fifty  years  ago,  and  they  are  just  as  good  to-day. 

A  Baptist  minister  gave  some  counsel,  and  testified  to  the  possession  of  perfect 
love.  Others  followed,  until  a  call  was  made  for  those  now  seeking  full  salvation. 
Forty-six  arose.  The  unconverted,  who  wanted  salvation  were  next  asked  to 
stand  up,  and,  all  over  the  congregation,  persons  indicated  their  desire  to  come 
to  Christ. 


53  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

Mr.  Inskip — "  Keep  steady.  Let  me  ask,  are  you  in  earnest ;  do  you  mean 
to  have  salvation  at  any  cost,  or  take  it  in  any  way  God  may  determine  to  bless 
3'ou  ?  If  so,  raise  your  right  hand."  The  sign  was  given,  and  further  question- 
ing brought  out  many  em  pah  tic  snd  pathetic  responses.  Embarrassment  melted 
away  and  the  altars  were  soon  filled  with  praying  souls. 

"  Now  be  very  quiet.  Don't  speak  to  one  another.  Tread  softly.  Here 
they  conic.  Let  us  all  go  down  and  join  them  at  the  mercy  seat.  Come  on, 
brethren."  Seeing  us  busy  with  our  pencil,  Mr.  Inskip  shouted,  "  Come  down 
here,  Home  Journal,  you  need  a  baptism  with  the  rest  of  us.  Without  the 
Holy  Ghost,  the  Home  Journal  isn't  worth  much.     Lord,  help  here !" 

All  kneeling,  he  then  recited  the  hymn,  "  Wrestling  Jacob,"  some  stanzas  of 
which  were  sung,  and  before  the  conclusion,  it  was  given  to  many  to  prevail 
with  the  angel,  for  He  blessed  them  there. 


SERMON  BY  REV.  WM.  McDONALD, 

Vice-President  of  the  National    Camp-Meeting  Association. 


"  Where/ore  he  is  able  also  to  save  them  to  the  uttermosf,  that  come  unto  God 
hy  Am.— Heb.  7  :  25. 

The  question  is  asked.  How  far  can  a  believer  be  delivered  from  the  pollu- 
tion of  sin  in  this  life  ?  The  text  says  he  can  be  saved  to  the  uttermost — 
that  is,  to  the  farthest  extent,  to  the  most  remote  point  within  the  limit  of 
human  endeavor,  so  far  as  the  divine  ability  is  concerned  ;  and  also  so  far  as  the 
availability  of  the  blood  of  Christ  is  conceriied.  This  is  confirmed  by  the 
Scripture  in  1  John.  If  we  confess  our  sins  he  is  faithful  and  just  to  for- 
give us  our  sins ;  and  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  his  Son  cleanseth  us  from 
all  unrighteousness.  Then  so  far  as  the  divine  agency,  willingness  or  power 
is  concerned,  there  is  no  difficulty. 

The  condition  upon  which  this  cleansing  is  secured  is  that  "we  confess 
our  sins."  Christians  claim  to  believe  that  they  must  be  saved  to  the  utter- 
most, and  that  salvation  to  the  uttermost  must  be  in  this  life.  There  must 
come  a  time  ere  the  gates  of  heaven  shut  us  in,  when  we  must  be  made  holy  ; 
for  nothing  that  is  unholy  or  unclean  can  enter  there.  This  is  the  faith  of 
the  universal  Church  of  God. 

There  are  denials  which,  while  the  doctrine  is  admitted,  practically  vitiate 
it.     Let  us  look  at  some  of  them. 

1.  There  are  those  who  claim  to  believe  the  doctrine  of  heart  purity, 
but  deny  its  imuiediateness.  They  say  we  are  not  to  look  for  it  now  ;  that 
it  is  the  work  of  development,  of  growth,  of  progress,  to  be  completed  at 
some  point  between  this  and  the  hour  of  death  by  a  constant  accession  of 
spiritual  strength,  and  soul  mortifications,  but  it  is  not  to  be  expected  as  an 
immediate  and  instantaneous  work. 


A   JIODERN   PENTECOST.  59 

We  claim  that  the  work  is  instantaneous,  and  that  all  the  blessings  of  the 
gospel  are,  in  their  very  nature,  necessarily  instantaneous.  We  all  admit  the 
instantaneousness  of  the  blessing  of  pardon.  God  does  not  gradually  bestow 
his  pardoning  mercy  on  a  repentant  sinner.  The  Scriptures  always  pi'o- 
claim  the  immediateness  of  every  proffered  blessing,  saying  7iow  is  the  day 
of  salvation.  We  preach  to  sinners,  but  we  do  not  offer  a  gradual  release- 
ment  from  sin  ;  we  exhort  them  to  believe  now  unto  salvation.  But  if  grad- 
ualism be  God's  method,  we  are  compelled  to  say  to  Christians  groaning  for 
purity  of  heart — not  now ;  stop  where  you  are,  do  not  let  your  desires  raise 
you  to  a  condition  of  expectancy  that  God  will  now  save  you  with  his  utter- 
most salvation.  But  if  God  can  pardon  a  sinner  immediately,  forgiving  this 
instant  all  his  transgressions,  why  is  it  that  he  cannot  do  the  other?  Cannot 
the  same  power  that  in  an  instant  accomplishes  the  one,  accomplish  the  other, 
and  that  suddenly,  with  an  energy  that  shall  complete  the  work  ? 

We  claim  that  immediateness  is  in  perfect  harmony  with  the  Scriptures. 
The  Saviour  says,  "What  things  soever  ye  desire  when  ye  pray  believe  that 
ye  receive  them,  and  ye  shall  have  them,"  at  the  very  time  when  ye  pray, 
believe.  When  ?  when  ye  pray.  If  your  prayer  be  for  a  clean  heart,  at  the 
time  ivhen  ye  pray ^  believe  and  ye  shall  have.  The  Scriptures  do  not  march 
us  on  to  wait  for  any  other  time  than  now. 

The  position  of  gradualism  cannot  explain  Christian  experience.  If  God 
does  not  cleanse  now,  this  moment,  from  all  sin,  there  is  no  reason  for  con- 
cluding that  he  justifies  now.  But  many  declare  that  they  have  secured 
both  the  one  and  the  other  instantaneously,  while  there  are  no  witnesses  to 
be  found  on  the  other  side  of  the  question.  If  you  deny  the  immediateness 
of  the  divine  blessing,  you  deny  the  blessing  itself,  for  it  is  a  fact  that  the 
economy  of  God's  administration  in  salvation  clearly  establishes  that — 

What  is,  of  purpose,  sought  gradually  in  Christian  experience, is  not  found 
at  all ;  i.  e.  if  we  aim  at,  or  intend  to  receive  it  gi-adually  All  God's  blessings 
come  by  faith,  Do  you  know  of  a  single  spiritual  blessing  which  is  not  received 
instantaneously  ?  Is  faith  gradual  or  instantaneous  ?  Is  the  act  of  faith  by 
which  you  touch  Jesus,  and  virtue  flows  from  him  to  your  soul,  gradual  or  in- 
stantaneous ?  According  to  your  faith,  so  be  it  to  you.  If  faith  be  an  instan- 
taneous operation,  and  every  one  must  admit  it,  ajccording  to  that  faith  so  shall 
it  be  unto  you.  Believing  now,  you  are  pardoned  now ;  believing  now,  you  are 
purified  now.  No  person  ever  found  entire  cleansing  who  sought  it  gradually. 
You  as  Methodists  believe  in  the  teachings  of  our  great  founder,  Mr.  Wesley. 
Let  us  hear  his  testimony.     He  says  : — 

"  To  expect  it  at  death,  or  some  time  hence  is  much  the  same  as  not  expect- 
ing it  at  all."      (Journal.     Sept.,  1762.) 

"  I  find  by  long  experience,  it  comes  exactly  to  the  same  point,  to  tell  men 
they  shall  be  saved  from  all  sin  when  they  die  ;  or  to  tell  them  it  may  be  a  year 
hence,  or  a  week  hence,  or  any  time  but  now.  Our  word  does  not  profit,  either 
as  to  justification,  or  to  sanctification,  unless  we  can  bring  them  to  expect  the 
blessing  while  we  speak."     (  Works.  Vol.  VI,  p.  673.) 

Mr.  Wesley  is,  therefore,  in  perfect  harmony  with  my  statement.  And  yet 
there  are  ministers,  who,  claiming  to  be  wiser  than  Mr.  Wesley,  whose  long 
experience  is  here  given,  constantly  talk  about  what  they  are  pleased  to  call  the 
"  hot-house"  process  of  salvation.  Let  us  give  you  another  quotation  from  Mr. 
Wesley ;  and  mark  you,  this  is  uttered  after  an  observation  of  many  yeai-s.    He 


60  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL    CAMP-MEETING. 

says:  "In  London  alone,  I  found  six  hundred  and  fifty-two  members  of  our 
society,  who  were  exceedingly  clear  in  their  experience,  and  of  whose  testimony, 
I  could  see  no  reason  to  doubt.  I  believe  no  .year  has  j^assed  since  that  time 
wherein  God  has  not  wrought  the  same  work  in  others ;  but  sometimes  in  one 
part  of  England,  or  Ireland,  sometimes  in  another;  as  the  loind  hloweth  lohere  it 
listeth;  and  eveiy  one  of  these  (after  the  most  careful  inquiry,  I  have  not  found 
one  exception,  either  in  Great  Britain  or  Ireland),  has  declared  that  his  deliver- 
ance from  sin  was  instantaneous^  that  the  change  was  wrought  in  a  moment. 

"  Had  half  of  these,  or  one  third,  or  one  in  twenty  declared  it  was  gradualli/ 
wrought  in  them,  I  should  have  believed  this  in  regard  to  them,  and  thought 
that  so^ne  were  gradually  sanctified  and  some  instantaneously.  But  as  I  have 
not  found  in  so  long  a  space  of  time  a  single  person  speaking  thus  ;  as  all  who 
believe  they  are  sanctified,  declare  with  one  voice  that  the  change  was  wrought 
in  a  moment ;  I  cannot  but  believe  that  sauctification  is  commonly,  if  not  always, 
an  instantaneous  work." 

A  minister  in  Iowa  who  related  his  experience  after  he  had  obtained  the 
blessing  of  holiness,  said,  "  I  always  believed  this  doctrine,  and  preached  it  to 
my  congregation,  but  I  always  reserved  an  opportunity  to  give  my  hearers  who 
made  the  open  profession  a  slap,  because  of  what  I  regarded  their  imperfections." 
So  it  is  with  many  who  aflPect  to  believe  with  the  founder  of  Methodism  in 
doctrine  and  experience.  It  has  been  said  Mr.  Wesley  taught  gradualism  in 
sanctification ;  but  mark  you,  Mr.  Wesley's  belief  in  the  possibility  of  gradual 
sauctification  has  not,  according  to  his  own  confession,  a  single  fact  after  an 
experience  of  forty-five  years  to  prove  it.  During  all  that  time  not  a  single  fact 
came  within  the  range  of  his  knowledge,  so  that  he  concludes  that  gradualism 
in  entire  sanctification  is  a  bare  abstract  possibility.  Scores  have  taken  up  the 
dogma  of  Wesley's  doctrine  of  gradual  sanctification,  but  do  not  put  the  doctrine 
of  instantaneous  sanctification  where  Wesley  put  it,  in  the  fore  front,  thereby 
misrepresenting  that  man  of  God.  Whether  Mr.  Wesley  believed  in  gradual 
sanctification  or  not,  you  have  no  facts  to  sustain  you  in  the  position  assumed 
by  you  as  to  the  work  itself 

Let  me  call  attention  to  another  form  of  denial.  While  some  persons  admit 
the  possibility  of  obtaining  this  grace  in  the  p>resent  life,  they  deny  that  the 
Spirit  witnesses  to  the  ivork  wrought  in  the  soul.  This  we  claim  is  to  deny 
the  instantaneousness  of  the  work :  for  how  can  we  know  we  are  from  this 
moment  cleansed  from  all  sin,  unless  there  be  the  testimony  of  the  Spirit  to 
the  cleansing  by  the  blood  ? 

If  the  Spirit  be  not  our  witness,  we  have  no  witness.  It  is  said,  we  are  to 
look  for  the  witness  in  the  fruits;  but  instantaneous  fruit-growing  is  an  im- 
possibility. The  Bible,  it  is  claimed,  does  not  teach  that  the  Spirit  witnesses 
to  the  fact  of  our  entire  sanctification  ;  but  hear  what  the  Scriptures  say  : 
"  We  have  not  received  the  spirit  of  the  world ;  but  the  Spirit  of  God,  by 
which  we  know  the  things  that  are  freely  given  us  of  God." 

I  can  find  multitudes  who  testify  that  the  witness  of  the  Spirit  has  been 
given  to  them,  as  to  the  fact  of  their  sanctification,  just  as  definitely  and 
clearly  as  it  was  in  adoption.  This  has  been  the  uniform  testimony  of  all 
who  have  been  sanctified.  It  is  taught  as  the  doctrine  of  the  Church.  The 
testimony  is  very  clear  and  unequivocal,  and  we  claim  that  every  man  who 
takes  the  opposite  ground  is  not  grounded  in  Methodist  doctrine. 

Mr.  Wesley,  writing  to  Mrs.  Bennes,  says :  "  One  of  our  preachers  has 


A    MODERN    PENTECOST.  61 

lately  advocated  a  new  position  among  us,  that  there  is  no  direct  or  immediate 
witness  of  sanctification,  but  only  a  perception  or  consciousness  that  we  are 
changed,  filled  with  love,  and  cleansed  from  sin.  But  if  I  understand  you 
right,  you  find  a  direct  *  *  testimony." 

This  he  calls  a  "  new  position,  among  us."  Not  as  new  now  as  then,  but 
equally  absurd.  "  Question, — How  do  you  know  that  you  are  sanctified  ? 
saved  from  all  inbred  corruption  ?  Ans.  I  can  know  it  in  no  other  way  than 
I  know  that  I  am  justified.  '  Hereby  know  we  that  we  are  of  God,'  in  either 
sense,  'by  the  Spirit  that  he  hath  given  us.'  " 

Again,  while  some  admit  all  that  is  contended  for  by  us,  they  assert  that 
no  public  or  open  confession  ought  to  be  made  of  experience,  for  the  follow- 
ing reasons  :  First,  "  We  may  be  mistaken."  Is  it  more  likely  than  in  the 
instance  of  justification  ?  Do  not  persons  make  profession  of  having  attained 
that  state,  of  whom  you  are  in  doubt,  and  they  themselves,  afterward,  also 
doubt?  Would  you  insist  that  persons  must  not  declare  that  they  are  justi- 
fied, because  some  may  be  mistaken  ?  Secondly:  "  It  has  the  appearance  of 
boasting."  This  is  just  what  the  world  says  of  those  who  profess  justifi- 
cation. But  is  that  a  valid  reason  for  silence?  Third:  "It  creates  caste 
among  us."  If  this  be  caste,  I  go  for  caste.  Is  it  caste  for  a  man  to  confess 
that  he  is  better  than  he  once  was?  Must  we  refuse  to  go  forward,  fearing 
if  we  get  ahead  of  others,  we  shall  create  caste  ?  I  go  for  leveling  upward, 
not  downward ;  why  not  take  hold  of  the  best  gift  and  enter  into  the  purest 
society?  Great  God,  grant  that  the  movement  here  may  annihilate  all  dis- 
tinctions, except  that  between  sin  and  holiness  !  Fourthly:  "It  is  discour- 
aging to  those  who  do  not  profess  it."  I  am  sorry  for  that.  If  they  were 
deeply  earnest  about  the  matter,  it  would  not  be  the  case.  If  men  by  our 
side  amass  wealth,  does  that  cause  you  to  repine  and  be  discouraged?  Do 
you  not  rather  take  fresh  courage  ?  Are  you  inspired  by  their  successes  to 
labor  as  you  have  seen  them  labor,  and  to  expect  the  largest  success  ?  Rather 
than  take  strength  from  you,  does  it  not  put  strength  into  you  ?  I'll  tell  you 
why  it  is  discouraging.     It  is  because  you  want  to  stay  where  you  are. 

The  Scriptures  enjoin  confession.  "  With  the  heart  man  believeth  unto 
righteousness,  and  with  the  mouth  confession  is  made  unto  salvation."  These 
are  they  that  washed  their  robes  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb,  overcoming  by  the 
word  of  their  testimony. 

If  the  blessings  of  holiness  or  purity  be  not  confessed,  how  is  it  to  be  known 
by  the  world  ?  If  full  of  salvation  ;  if  the  soul  is  entirely  free  from  imperfec- 
tion ;  if  you  are  sanctified  wholly,  it  must  be  confessed.  You  know  when  you 
see  a  man  guilty  of  a  violation  of  the  law  of  God,  that  he  is  not  wholly  sancti- 
fied. Bvit  do  not  imagine  that  such  a  condition  of  things  can  exist  even  in  a 
justified  state.  There  ought  to  be  a  sinless  external  life,  in  the  ju,stified  as  well 
as  in  the  sanctified  ;  for  no  man  can  break  God's  law  and  be  justified.  But 
there  may  be  an  increased  intensity  of  this  spiritual  life,  in  the  sanctified ;  and 
there  is.  But  mark  you,  there  are  men  whose  external  life  is  no  more  faultless 
than  that  of  the  sanctified.  There  is  no  way  of  telling  of  this  state  but  by 
telling  what  God  has  done  for  them.  Let  us  come  back  once  more  to  the 
fathers — we  would  like  to  entrench  ourselves  behind  them. 

Wesley,  writing  to  Mr.  Benson,  in  1782,  now  70  years  of  age,  says,  "  I 
doubt  we  are  not  explicit  enough  in  speaking  of  full  sanctification,  either  in 
public  or  private." 


62  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

In  1787,  four  years  before  his  death,  he  writes  to  Mr.  King  thus  :  "  It 
requires  a  great  degree  of  watchfulness  to  retain  the  perfect  love  of  Grod ;  and 
one  great  means  of  retaining  it  is  frankly  to  declare  what  God  has  given  you." 
Vol.  7,  p.  13. 

Writing  to  Miss  Briggs,  he  says,  "  Undoubtedly  it  would  be  a  cross  to 
declare  what  God  has  done  for  your  soul ;  nay,  and  afterwards  Satan  would 
accuse  you  on  the  account,  telling  you,  you  did  it  out  of  pride ;  yea,  and  some 
of  your  sisters  would  blame  you,  and  perhaps  put  the  same  construction  upon  it, 
as  many  are  doing.  Nevertheless,  if  you  do  it  with  a  single  eye,  it  will  be 
pleasing  to  God." 

"  But  Mr.  "Wesley  never  professed  this  blessing  himself"  I  can't  say  he 
over  did,  yet  there  are  a  good  many  things  that  look  like  it.  Nor  do  I  think 
the  cause  itself  has  suflfered  in  the  slightest  degree  by  him  not  confessing  it,  if 
it  be  so.  If,  like  Bramwell,  or  Fletcher,  or  Mrs.  Rodgers,  or  a  host  of  others, 
lie  had  unequivocally  left  on  record  the  profession,  you  might  say  he  was  a  prej- 
udiced witness — but  when  we  take  into  account  his  instructions  to  others  to  do 
it,  and  his  sayings  if  they  did  it  they  would  glorify  God,  it  would  seem  to  any 
mind  capable  of  weighing  evidence,  that  his  testimony  becomes  more  important 
than  though  he  had  been  a  professor  of  the  experience. 

1.  An  uttermost  salvation  is  possible. 

He  who  denies  this  confronts  a  great  mass  of  Scriptural  evidence  in  its  favor. 
The  commands,  the  promises,  the  prayers  of  God's  word  meet  him  on  every  side, 
calling  him  to  holiness,  to  purity,  to  perfect  love,  to  entire  sanctification.  God 
does  not  mock  us  with  these,  but  pledges  the  merit  of  Jesus'  blood  for  the 
completeness  of  the  work.  Not  only  does  he  confront  Scriptural  authority,  but 
human  exjjerience.  The  testimony  of  the  Church,  in  her  brighter  examples  of 
holiness,  proves  that  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  cleanseth  from  all  sin.  Will 
we  credit  or  deny  the  testimony  ? 

2.  An  uttermost  salvation  is  attainable  now. 

The  witnesses  are  here  who  aver  that  it  can  be  done.  They  arc  multiplying 
in  all  parts  of  tlie  land. 

Do  you  seek  uninterrupted  communion  with  God  ?  then  seek  an  uttermost 
salvation.  Do  you  seek  to  be  useful  to  men,  and  an  honor  to  God  ?  this  is 
.secured  by  the  possession  of  an  uttermost  salvation.  Do  you  wish  an  abundant 
entrance  into  the  eternal  kingdom  ?  it  is  given  to  them  whose  robes  are  made 
white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb. 

Mr.  Inskip,  rising  at  the  close  of  the  discourse,  and  apparently  filled  with 
the  theme,  said  : 

There  are  two  and  a  quarter  millions  of  Methodists  in  our  country,  every 
one  of  whom  declares  that  the  mission  of  Methodism  is  to  spread  Scriptural 
holiness  over  these  lands.  It  is  the  only  peculiar  Methodistic  dogma  that 
they  teach,  and  have  taught,  from  the  beginning.  I  aver  that  the  immedi- 
ate cleansing  of  the  heart  from  all  sin  has  ever  been  the  doctrine  of  Method- 
ism, though  there  arc  but  few  that  have  been  lifted  into  the  experience.  I 
know  a  man  who  was  hostile  to  this  experience,  who  wrote  a  book  entitled  : 
"  METHODISM  EXPLAINED  AND  i)Ei''ENDED."  lie  sought  to  explain  and 
vindicate  Methodism  by  leaving  out  this  peculiar  doctrine,  or  confining  it  to 
only  two  pages,  a  good  portion  of  which  was  taken  up  with  criticisms  upon 
professors  of  holiness.     (A  voice  from  the  stand  :  Yes,  and  that  was  brother 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  63 

Inskip  himself?)  Yes,  but  glory  to  God,  we  stand  on  another  platform 
to-day ! 

Baptists  are  coming  to  our  side,  also  the  Presbyterians  and  Episcopalians 
and  the  other  denominations.  But  we  had  the  field  before  you,  and  alas ! 
we  have  betrayed  our  trust.  True,  at  all  our  Conferences,  those  admitted  to 
membership  ought  to  have  been  sanctified.  In  the  most  solemn  manner, 
questions  are  asked  the  young  minister,  to  which  an  affirmative  response  is 
required,  and  by  these  he  is  committed  to  this  all-important  theme. 

Before  a  preacher  among  us  can  be  admitted  into  full  connection  he  is 
called  before  the  Conference  to  answer  these  questions: 

"x\re  you  going  on  to  perfection  ?  "  "  Do  you  expect  to  be  made  perfect 
in  love  in  this  life  ?  "  "Are  you  groaning  after  it  ?"  And  yet  there  is  a 
great  dereliction  of  duty  in  expecting  either  ministers  or  members  to  be 
made  perfect  in  love  in  this  life.  Most  of  our  troubles  as  a  denomination 
arise  from  this  source.  Our  difficulties  in  the  Book  Concern  are  attributable 
to  the  want  of  this  experience.  0  Lord,  sanctify  every  minister  on  this 
camp  ground ! 

We  are  desperately  in  earnest.  This  is  no  sham  fight.  We  have  drawn 
the  sword  and  thrown  away  the  scabbard.  We  intend,  by  the  help  of  God, 
to  see  this  thing  through.  (Great  commotion.)  This  is  the  old  cry  that 
our  fathers  sounded.  If  we  could  get  the  two  and  a  quarter  millions  of 
Methodists  into  this  fountain,  and  this  experience,  the  Baptists  and  Presby- 
terians might  look  on  and  see  us  win  the  world  for  Jesus.  Our  God  is 
marching  on.  We  may  have  made  a  good  many  mistakes,  but  our  hearts  are 
right.  Glory  to  Jesus  !  Who  will  come  into  this  blessed  experience  just  now  ? 
Give  us  room  here — stand  back.  Who  among  you  ministers  that  have  not 
obtained  this  blessing,  will  come  now — come  at  once  ?  (Several  ministers 
bow  at  the  altar.)  Who  among  the  laity?  (They  come.)  Now,  glory  to 
God  !  I  want  to  get  more  fully  down  into  deep  waters  than  I  have  ever 
gone.  Lord  help  me.  Come  on,  brethren.  Now  steady.  Lord  Jesus,  save 
the  people  ■! 

A  deeply  impressive  season  followed,  during  which  several  professed  to  be 
saved  "  to  the  uttermost." 


SERMON  BY  REV.  W.  T.  HARLOW. 

FRIDAY   AFTERNOON,    2*  O'CLOCK. 

"  For  all  things  are  for  your  sales^  that   the   alumlant  grace  might  throvgh 
the  thanksgiving  of  many,  redound  to  the  glory  of  God. — 2  Cor.  4  :  15. 

The  original  Greek  version  of  this  passage  is  more  significant  of  the  fullness 
of  Gospel  grace  than  the  English  translation.  The  Apostle  seems  to  labor  to 
express  the  great  idea  which  is  in  his  mind,  reminding  one  by  the  number  of 
comparisons  used,  of  that  other  passage  :  "  Where  sin  abounded  grace  did  much 
more  abound." 

"  Thou,  0  Christ,  art  all   I  want ; 
More  than  all  in  Thee  I  find." 


64  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

We  have  in  the  text, 

I.    The  ABUNDANCE  OF  GOSPEL  GRACE. 

11.  The  Divine  method  op  that  grace. 

Grace,  in  general,  is  any  favor  bestowed  without  an  equivalent  expected  in 
return.  In  the  Gospel  scheme  of  redemption  it  refers  to  the  divine  interposi- 
tion for  the  salvation  of  human  kind,  with  special  reference  to  the  provisions 
made  for  that  salvation.  "  God  so  loved  the  world  that  he  gave  his  only  begot- 
ten Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  in  him  should  not  perish,  but  have  everlast- 
ing life." 

The  abundance  af  Gospel  grace  may  be  seen  if  we  regard — 

1.  Its  source,  which  is  the  Divine  mind.  All  the  attributes  of  God  stand 
pledged  to  insure  success  to  any  scheme  which  his  wisdom  may  devise.  When 
he  proposes  to  make  man  holy  and  bring  him  to  a  holy  heaven,  a  partner  of  his 
throne,  infinite  power  is  at  hand  to  carry  into  effect  the  gracious  purpose. 

Human  resources  sometimes  fail  when  the  most  beneficent  enterprises  are 
undertaken.  In  a  season  of  drought,  not  long  since,  the  Cochituate  water  came 
near  failing  the  city  of  Boston.  People  were  alarmed  at  the  prospect  of  the 
fountain  of  their  supplies  drying  up,  and  the  city  exposed  to  the  dangers  of  fire 
with  no  possibility  of  extinguishing  it.  The  city  authorities  were  compelled 
to  forbid  the  use  of  water  except  in  limited  measure  for  certain  purposes.  But 
there  is  no  danger  of  a  failure  in  the  fountain  of  divine  grace.  If  the  world 
should  make  all  possible  demands  upon  it,  it  would  still  be  full.  If  every 
one  of  the  thirteen  hundred  millions  of  human  beings  now  upon  the  earth 
were  all  together  "  at  the  fountain  drinking,"  the  river  of  divine  grace  would 
overflow  its  banks,  and  with  a  sea  of  glory  inundate  the  world. 

"Its  streams  the  whole  creation  reach, 
So  plenteous  is  the  store; 
Enough  for  all,  enough  for  each. 
Enough  for  evermore." 

2.  Look  at  the  particular  provisions  made  for  the  salvation  of  the  race. 
The  Atonement  is  the  great  provision  on  which  all  the  others  rest.      See 

its  amplitude — "He  tasted  death  for  every  man."  Notice  its  fullness — "The 
blood  of  Jesus  Christ  his  Son  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin." 

The  Holy  Ghost  is  abundant  for  all  purposes  for  which  he  comes  into 
the  world.  He  "  reproves  the  world  of  sin,  of  righteousness,  and  of  judg- 
ment," and  often  against  the  wishes  of  those  whom  he  thus  visits. 

It  may  be  remarked  here  that  the  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  enlighten- 
ing the  mind  is  his  fundamental  work.  All  his  other  work  of  comforting 
and  endowing  with  power  is  in  exact  ratio  of  our  obedience  to  the  light  he 
gives.  Persons  sometimes  complain  of  their  want  of  comfort  and  their  want 
of  power  over  self  and  over  the  world.  The  reason  in  every  case  is  this  : 
they  fail  to  live  up  to  the  light  of  the  Spirit.  To  walk  in  the  light  we  must 
valk  up  to  the  light,  and  when  we  do  this  all  the  graces  of  the  Spirit  are 
multiplied  within  us.  There  is  no  deficiency  here.  The  provision  is  abun- 
dant if  we  will  avail  ourselves  of  it. 

And  .so  of  the  Word  of  God.  There  are  more  thrcatenings  liere  than 
many  are  willing  to  heed ;  more  precepts  than  most  are  willing  to  obey  ;  more 
promises  than  most  arc  willing  to  claim ;  and  more  examples  of  holy  living 
than  most  are  willing  to  follow. 

The  same  is  true  of  prayer.       What    an    abundant  provision  has  been 


A    MODERN    PENTECOST.  65 

made  for  frequency  of  access  to  tlie  throne  of  grace — for  liberty  to  bring  our 
largest  requests  !     And  so  of  all  other  spiritual  helps.     The  grace  is  abundant. 

In  another  place  the  Apostle  says,  "  All  things  are  yours."  But  here  he 
virtually  says,  "  Not  only  ai-e  all  the  appointments  and  arrangements  of  the 
gospel  youi's,  but  all  were  appointed  and  arranged  for  your  sakes." 

3.  The  grace  provided  is  abundant  to  meet  all  the  necessities  of  the  soul. 
Let  us  look  for  awhile  at  these  necessities.     What  are  they  ? 

First.  We  are  guilti/  and  need  pardon.  Abundant  provision  is  made  to  meet 
this  necessity. 

The  gospel  offers  pardon  to  all. 

The  gospel  offers  a  full  pardon  to  all. 

The  gospel  offers  a  full  pardon  to  the  worst  of  sinners. 

Second.  We  are  depraved,  and  therefore  need  purify.  Entire  holiness  is  the 
normal  condition  of  the  human  soul,  and  no  one  can  be  at  perfect  rest  without 
it.  To  this  condition  of  entire  holiness  all  the  provisions  of  the  gospel  point. 
It  would  be  an  imperfect  gospel  were  not  this  the  case.  This  being  the  case 
the  gospel  would  be  a  failure  did  it  not  secure  entire  conformity  to  the  will  of 
God.     But  provision  has  been  made  abundant  for  this  end. 

The  gospel  abundantly  provides  for  the  purity  of  all,  and 

The  gospel  abundantly  provides  for  the  purity  of  all  in  the  present  life. 

II.      The  Divine  method  of  that  grace. 

The  representation  which  Grod  gives  of  himself  is  that  "  He  is  a  jealous 
God,"  and  he  "  will  not  give  his  glory  to  another."  '•  For  of  him  and  through 
him  and  to  him  are  all  things  :  to  whom  be  glory  forever."  "  The  heavens 
declare  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  firmament  showeth  his  handiwork."  The 
sun,  moon  and  stars  fulfill  the  end  for  which  they  were  made,  and  they  glorify 
God.  And  so  of  the  flowers  that  bloom  at  our  feet,  and  the  ten  thousand 
forms  of  the  beautiful  that  meet  our  eyes  in  every  direction.  They  speak 
the  skill,  the  wisdom,  or  power  of  their  Creator,  and  thus  declare  his  glory. 

The  same  was  true  of  rational  beings  so  long  as  they  continued  to  meet  the 
end  of  their  creation.  They  exhibited  the  skill  and  wisdom  of  the  Divine 
Being  more  perfectly  than  irrational  existences  could  do,  because  their  work- 
manship was  more  exquisite.  Material  forms  glorify  their  Maker ;  but  the 
praise  they  offer  is  the  music  of  the  unconscious  instrument  that  is  made  to 
play  a  given  number  of  tunes  of  limited  power  and  compass.  It  is  well,  yea 
beautiful,  as  far  as  it  goes,  but  the  music  is  after  all  involuntary  and  auto- 
matic. But  the  glory  given  to  God  by  intelligent  beings  is  the  music  of  an 
exquisite  instrument  endowed  with  voluntary  power  to  offer  praise.  The 
most  exquisite  workmanship  speaks  the  greater  skill  of  its  Author,  and  the 
voluntary  offering  gives  to  him  the  greater  glory. 

But  when  man  sinned  the  case  was  different.  It  was  not  that  of  an  uncon- 
scious instrument  getting  out  of  tune,  and  thus  rendered  incapable  of  making 
good  music.  It  was  the  case  of  a  conscious  instrument  refusing  to  make  good 
music,  and  by  refusing  to  do  so,  putting  itself  out  of  tune,  and  rendering  itself 
incapable  of  answering  the  end  of  its  being.  Oh  !  the  hour  when  man  sinned, 
was  the  hour  of  the  power  of  darkness.  Then  came  an  awful  eclipse  in  the 
moral  heavens.  Then  was  made  an  infinite  chasm  between  man  and  God,  that 
created  power  could  never  bridge.  If  God  had  not  been  on  the  throne  of  the 
universe,  that  eclipse  would  have  darkened  the  world  forever,  and  that  chasm 
5 


66  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

would  have  been  forever  unbridged.  But  God  was  there.  His  presence  had 
anticipated  the  event,-and  he  was  ready  for  the  emergency.  From  all  eternity 
he  had  determined  to  thwart  the  designs  of  evil,  and  seize  upon  man's  necessity 
as  his  golden  opportunity  for  displaying  his  greater  wisdom  and  power,  and 
gaining  to  himself  the  greater  glory.  To  accomplish  this  end  his  own  Son  must 
come  to  this  world  to  suffer  and  die,  and  thereby  make  atonement  for  sin. 

When  the  fullness  of  the  time  had  come,  the  Saviour  appeared,  heralded  by  the 
angels  to  the  shepherds  on  the  plains  of  Bethlehem.  He  throttled  the  serpent 
sin.  He  illumined  the  moral  heavens  with  a  new  lustre.  He  bridged  the  chasm 
which  sin  had  made,  and  reconciled  man  to  God. 

The  star  of  ]jethlehem  was  brighter  than  the  old  luminary.  The  bridge 
across  the  chasm  was  better  and  safer  than  was  the  connection  before  the  chasm 
was  made.  The  old  instrument  that  had  become  impaired,  was  put  in  tune  so 
that  it  was  capable  of  making  better  music  than  before.  Trae,  a  strain  of 
minor  appeared  in  the  melody  here  and  there,  but  the  music  was  all  the  sweeter 
and  the  richer  for  the  change.  The  vase  that  had  been  dashed  to  pieces  was 
gathered  up  again,  and  the  broken  fragments  polished  and  wrought  into  a  beau- 
tiful mosaic,  capable  of  holding  and  reflecting  back  the  sweetest  odors  Heaven 
could  bestow.  Man's  highest  bliss  was  thus  secured,  and  secured,  too.  on  better 
conditions  than  before,  and  the  divine  glory  greatly  enhanced  by  the  change 
that  had  been  made.  Such  was  the  divine  method  of  Gospel  grace.  It  kept 
constantly  in  view  the  enhancement  of  the  glory  of  God. 

But  it  must  be  particularly  observed  that,  in  order  to  secure  this  end,  the 
enhancement  of  God's  glory,  "  the  abundant  grace,"  in  all  its  saving  power 
must  be  a  matter  of  personal  experience.  It  enters,  then,  into  the  divine 
method  that  "  the  abundant  grace,"  in  all  its  fullness,  shall  be  first  received 
by  the  individual;  secondly,  enjoyed,  and  thirdly  reflected  back  in  songs  of 
thanksgiving  to  God. 

This  divine  method  is  fitly  brought  to  view  by  the  apostle  Paul  in  his 
epistle  to  the  Ephesians  3  :  10. — "  To  the  intent  that  now,  unto  the  princi- 
palities and  powers  in  heavenly  places  might  be  known  (be  made  known)  by 
the  Church,  the  manifold  wit-dom  of  God."  For  this  cause,  viz.:  that  the 
church  at  Ephesus  might  make  angels  and  archangels  acquainted  with  "the 
manifold  wisdom  of  God,"  he  offers  that  wonderful  prayer,  commencing  with 
the  fourteenth  verse  and  ending  with  that  more  wonderful  doxology  at  the 
close  of  the  chapter.  He  thereby  expresses  his  deep  solicitude  that  the 
church  might  express  all  the  "  fullness  of  God,"  so  that  every  one  in  heaven 
might  know  that  Jesus  Christ  on  earth  was  "  mighty  to  save."  For  then  God 
would  be  glorified  when  they  should  be  made  to  understand  that  the  gospel 
was  indeed  "  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation." 

The  incense  offered  in  the  temple  service  at  Jerusalem  was  so  fragrant  that 
it  is  said  it  permeated  the  temple  and  all  the  city,  and  all  the  surrounding 
atmosphere  for  miles  in  extent.  They  who  lived  at  a  distance  knew  by  the 
perfumed  air  that  service  was  being  performed  at  Jerusalem,  that  the  She- 
kinah  was  still  within  the  holy  place,  and  that  God  had  not  forgotten  his  cov- 
enant. Even  so  the  thanksgiving  of  the  Church,  saved  fully,  saved  joyously, 
is  designed  to  be  a  perpetual  incense  to  heaven,  by  which  angels  and  men 
shall  know  that  God  is  true  to  his  word,  and  that  the  gospel  is  no  failure. 
That  incense  shall  yet  fill  the  world.  From  every  hill-top  and  from  every 
valley  shall  go  up  the  "  song  of  Moses  and  the  liamb." 


A   MODERN  PENTECOST.  67 

What  a  motive  is  here  presented  for  availing  ourselves  of  the  proffered 
benefits  of  the  gospel — God's  glory  !  The  motive  is  as  vast  as  eternity.  No 
higher  one  could  be  conceived. 

Come,  sinner  ;  moved  by  this  highest  motive,  come  to  Christ  and  help  swell 
the  song  of  the  redeemed,  and  thereby  enhance  the  glory  of  Grod,  Come, 
Christian,  impelled  by  the  same  motive,  come  for  all  your  privilege  in 
Christ.  Come  and  receive  "  all  the  fullness  of  Grod,"  and  then  let  your  joy- 
ful hosannas  go  up  to  the  heavens  in  testimony  of  the  great  truth  that  the 
gospel  "  saves  to  the  uttermost,"  that  God  may  be  glorified  thereby. 

Oh !  if  I  had  a  thousand  souls,  how  would  I  delight  to  bring  them  all  to 
Christ  and  thus  give  him  an  opportunity  to  glorify  himself  in  their  complete 
salvation  !  Then  would  I  sing  that  glorious  old  doxology  of  the  apostle  : 
"  Now  unto  him  that  is  able  to  do  exceeding  abundantly  above  all  that  we 
ask  or  think,  according  to  the  power  that  worketh  in  us,  unto  him  be  glory  in, 
the  Church  by  Christ  Jesus,  throughout  all  ages,  world  without  end.    Amen." 

THE    SERMON, 

only  an  outline  of  which  is  presented,  was  followed  in  the  usual  way.  The 
minister  rising  to  exhort,  has  no  roundabout  course  to  pursue  before  he 
touches  the  point  of  direct  application.  The  discourses  invariably  end  with 
pointed  and  personal  appeals,  looking  to  immediate  action.  No  single  word 
aside  from  "Jesus,"  is  more  potent  than  "  now."  To  silence  all  parleying 
with  self,  and  the  seducer  of  souls,  God's  great  stirring  "  NOW  "  is  reiter- 
ated, until  people,  made  aware  of  their  spiritual  deficiencies,  and  the  need  of 
a  deeper  work  to  be  wrought  within  them,  become  afraid  to  move  in  any  di- 
rection except  toward  the  altar.  To  give  suitable  impulse  to  the  minds  of 
those  who  "  come  forward,"  a  stanza  like  the  following  is  sung : 

'■  Here  at  the  cross,  where  flows  the  Mood, 
That  bought  my  guilty  soul  for  God, 
Thee  my  new  Master  now  I  call, 
And  consecrate  to  thee  my  all." 

There  is  a  season  of  silent  prayer,  only  interrupted  by  the  leader's  voice 
suggesting  a  promise  on  which  to  lean.  Then,  after  it  is  reasonably  presumed 
the  truth  is  apprehended,  and  the  efficacy  of  the  blood  applied,  the  strains  of 
holy  song  softly  swell  out  again — 

"  'Tia  done,  the  great  transaction's  done, 
I  am  my  Load's,  and  He  is  mine  ; 
He  drew  me,  and  I  followed  on, 
Charmed  to  confess  the  voice  Divine." 

After  a  moment's  pause,  that  the  full  force  and  effect  of  this  "  transaction" 
may  be  contemplated,  in  the  same  measure,  the  doxology  gives  to  all  the  in- 
timation that  the  service  is  ended. 

The  afternoon  exercises,  beginning  at  half-past  two,  including  sermon,  last 
until  5  P.  M.  As  the  congregation  begin  to  disperse,  the  tones  of  a  cabinet 
organ  are  heard  in  another  part  of  the  grounds,  and  thither  go  the  crowds 
who  wish  to  acquaint  themselves  with  new  tunes  which  have  taken  hold  of 
the  popular  ear  and  heart.  "  The  Gate  Ajar,"  "  Crimson  Stream,"  "  Whiter 
than  Snow,"  and  pieces  of  this  character  come  into  demand,  and  the  evening 
melody  is  kept  up  until  the  bell  gives  notice  of  another  service. 


68  SIXTEFNTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

A  FRIDAY  MEETING. 

To  many  of  the  followers  of  Jesus  all  over  the  land,  the  Philadelphia  Friday 
Meeting  is  an  institution  well  known  through  the  columns  of  the  Methodist 
Home  Journal.  This  paper  conveys  to  them  weekly  a  pretty  full  synopsis  of 
its  exercises,  through  which  their  souls  have  often  been  fed  and  refreshed,  as 
with  manna  from  heaven.  At  the  camp  meeting  were  assembled  a  number  of 
those  who  regularly  attend  and  participate  in  it,  besides  many  who  never  had 
the  pleasure  of  being  personally  present,  yet  greatly  desired  to  enjoy  this  privi- 
lege. 

On  Friday  afternoon,  therefore,  it  was  proposed  to  hold  a  re-union  at  half- 
past  [one.  The  large  prayer  tent  was  crowded,  and  the  exercises,  in  charge 
of  Rev.  W.  L.  Gray,  began  with  a  season  of  prayer,  in  which  five  or  six  breth- 
ren and  sisters  successively  led  the  thoughts  of  the  congregation  to  the  mercy- 
seat. 

After  some  delightful  singing,  in  which  Mrs.  Bangs  introduced  with  good 
judgment  the  sentiments  best  suited  to  the  occasion.  Sister  Boyle  gave  an 
account  of  the  wonderfully  gracious  manner  in  which  God  has  dealt  with  her, 
in  the  education  of  her  faith  to  trust  implicitly  the  naked  promise,  and  the  con- 
scious salvation  which  came  to  her  daily  by  believing. 

Mrs.  Dr.  Gause,  also  of  Philadelphia,  expressed  her  hearty  sympathy  with 
the  advancing  spirituality  of  the  Church,  telling  her  love  for  Christ,  and  her 
desire  to  work  for  the  saving  of  souls. 

Brother  Perkins,  of  Ohio,  said  he  greatly  enjoyed  the  Friday  meeting, 
although  it  was  ten  days,  usually,  after  date,  when  it  came  to  his  home  in  the 
West.  With  congratulation  he  bid  the  friends  of  Philadelphia  God  speed  in 
liolding  up  the  banner  of  full  salvation,  and  said  in  Cincinnati  they  were  fol- 
lowing the  good  example  of  the  City  of  Brotherly  Love,  in  speaking  often  one 
to  another  of  Jesus  and  his  great  salvation. 

A  preacher  of  the  Pittsburgh  Conference  gave  an  account  of  his  earlier 
experience.  He  was  converted,  and  felt  drawn  nearer  to  Christ.  The  duty  and 
privilege  of  being  wholly  sanctified  was  made  plain  to  him,  and  he  was  made  a 
happy  partaker  of  this  grace.  When  he  began  to  profess  and  preach  this 
special  blessing,  prudent  ones  cautioned  him  about  the  consequences  ;  told  him 
the  Church  could  not  bear  that  kind  of  thing,  and  to  accommodate  sensitive 
people,  he  was  ashamed  to  own,  he  had  compromised  with  the  enemy  by  round- 
ing ofi"  the  corners  of  this  distinctive  doctrine.  As  a  consequence,  he  lost  the 
evidence  and  power.  At  Manheim  he  was  brought  to  feel  and  see  what  was 
wanted.  He  consecrated  himself  anew,  and  went  home  determined  to  talk  and 
preach  holiness.  The  Lord  had  signally  blessed  him  in  his  soul,  and  attended 
the  word  of  his  testimony.  lie  had  been  sweetly  kept,  and  was  rejoicing  in  a 
present  and  complete  Saviour. 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  69 

Brother  Dunham,  an  aged  standard-bearer  in  the  ranks  of  the  redeemed, 
rose  and  requested  the  meeting  to  join  in  singing, 

"  Jesus  paid  it  all — all  the  debt  I  owe, 
Sin  had  left  a  crimson  stain — He  washed  me  white  as  snoWj" 

A  stanza  or  two  having  been  sung,  he  said  the  words  expressed  his  experi- 
ence for  fifty  years  past.  He  was  saved  all  along.  It  was  something  for  him 
to  feel  that  he  belonged  to  a  royal  family,  and  that  he  was  heir  to  a  crown  of 
glory.  Before  Jesus  took  him  in  hand,  he  had  been  as  proud  and  covetous  as 
the  Devil  desired,  but  the  cleansing  blood  had  washed  it  all  away;  "And  now," 
said  he,  "  I  am  free  in  Christ." 

Mrs.  Dr.  Lowery  said  there  was  very  much  in  the  testimonies  given  here  from 
day  to  day  that  was  similar  to  her  own  experience.  The  thought  that  she 
could  be  made  entirely  pure  by  the  blood  of  Jesus,  and  still  live,  attending  to 
her  ordinary  duties,  was  amazing.  She  hesitated  for  three  days  after  the  work 
had  been  wrought,  before  she  could  bring  herself  to  confess  "  the  blood  cleanseth." 
She  had  through  all  her  previous  Christian  life  been  convicted  for  holiness.  For 
twenty-five  years  she  had  been  tossed  about  like  a  weather-beaten  bark,  when  at 
any  moment  she  might  have  found  rest  in  Jesus.  At  the  first  Urbana  camp- 
meeting  she  became  thoroughly  awakened  to  the  fact  that  she  had  a  work  to  do, 
and  daily  she  vibrated  between  the  Tabernacle  and  the  stand,  listening,  learning, 
and  seeking  for  help.  Brother  McLean  preached  a  sermon  in  which  he  showed 
her  what  was  in  her  heart.  It  was  self  she  was  serving.  She  was  full  of  ambi- 
tion, and  brought  herself  to  the  resolution,  if  some  great  wave  of  power  should 
come  over  her  so  that  she  would  be  laid  prostrate,  and  then  filled  with  the  Divine 
Spirit,  she  could  testify.  But  she  had  to  step  out  on  the  rock.  Her  prejudice 
against  the  terms  "  cleansing  "  and  "  sanctification  "  had  to  be  yielded  up,  and 
the  Spirit  applied  the  word  to  her  heart  "  Now  are  ye  clean."  She  then  com- 
mitted herself  to  this  glorious  doctrine,  and  went  to  Sea  Cliff"  as  a  hungry, 
starving  soul,  wanting  to  be  instructed ;  and  there  she  teas  instructed  in  the 
deep  things  of  God.  She  went  home  happy,  and  ever  since  her  path  has  been 
all  clear,  and  is  shining  brighter  and  brighter. 

A  brother  said  he  had  come  to  the  meeting  to  hear  and  see  something  new ; 
but  this  theme  was  running  all  through  his  Bible  and  Hymn-book.  He 
wondered  the  preachers  did  not  give  it  prominence,  and  urge  the  people  up  to 
their  glorious  privilege.  He  was  going  on  to  state  his  intention  when  he 
returned  home  to  engage  with  all  his  heart  in  seeking  this  gi-eat  blessing . 

Brother  Gray — "No,  brother;  don't  wait  untU  you  go  home.  Here,  and 
now,  you  may  have  it.     Will  you  accept  it  ?" 

The  brother — "  I  will ;  I  do  accept  it.  (Great  emotion.)  Bless  God !  0, 
I  believe  he  can,  he  will,  he  does  save  me  fully." 

Brother  Gray — "Then  hold  on,  just  there.  You  will  receive  the  witness. 
Brethren  sing  a  verse." 

"  0  that  my  load  of  sin  were  gone,"  &c. 


70  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL    CAMP-MEETING. 

"  Sing  one  more  verse  ;  it  may  help  several  souls  into  the  pool  just  now." 

"I  would,  but  thou  must  give  the  power, 
My  heart  from  every  sin  release  ; 
Bring  near,  bring  near  the  joyful  hour, 
And  fill  me  with  thy  perfect  peace." 

After  the  stir  had  subsided  a  little,  a  sister  told  what  grace  had  done  in  its 
influence  on  her  temper,  and  how  she  loved  to  speak,  and  work,  and  would  even 
forsake  all,  to  follow  Jesus. 

Referring  to  the  last  speaker,  another  sister  said,  "  Yes,  she  is  willing  to  con- 
fess Christ  anywhere,  and  so  earnest  is  she  to  win  souls,  that  they  must  either 
run  from  her,  or  yield,  and  come  to  Jesus." 

Still  another  from  the  same  locality,  testified  that  the  zeal  spoken  of  helped 
to  get  her  converted,  but  she  never  did  much  until  she  sought  and  obtained  a 
clean  heart.  Then  she  had  power  to  talk  with  her  dear  husband  about  his  SQul, 
and  led  him  also  into  the  fountain  that  washes  "  whiter  than  snow." 

A  Philadelphia  minister  said — "  I  have  been  listening  with  great  interest  to 
what  has  been  said  here,  and  feel  convinced  just  now  that  I  too  should  say  some- 
thing for  the  Master.  I  have  to  leave  the  ground  this  evening.  Since  I 
became  a  Methodist,  I  never  had  any  doubts  about  the  doctrine  of  sanctification. 
That  was  twenty  years  ago.  I  have  been  a  preacher  eighteen  years.  I  am  one 
of  those  who  think  everybody  ought  to  do  just  as  I  want  them  ;  and  if  they 
come  short,  it  disturbs  my  equilibrium.  I  have  been  kneeling  among  those  that 
were  seeking  a  heart  filled  with  the  love  of  God.  I  had  a  notion  that  if  the 
Lord  would  knock  me  down  by  his  power,  and  roll  me  about,  it  would  be  good 
for  me.  But  some  of  my  notions  have  been  modified.  The  National  Committee 
have  been  taken  out  of  my  way,  and  several  other  things.  The  greatest  thing 
in  my  way,  however,  is — here  he  pronounced  his  own  name — but  self  is  all  on 
the  altar,  and  I  shall  go  home  a  better  man  than  I  came." 

A  brother  from  Massachusetts  expressed  his  joy  in  being  for  once  in  his  life 
in  the  Friday  meeting.  Brother  Foote  was  of  the  same  mind,  and  exclaimed 
"  Glory  be  to  Jesus  !"  Sister  Baldwin  talked  sweetly  of  resting  at  the  cross, 
and  Amanda  Smith  sang — 

"  0  'twas  love,  'twas  wondrous  love, 
The  love  of  God  to  me ; 
It  brought  my  Saviour  from  above 
To  die  on  Calvary." 

"Glory  be  to  God  !  I  am  in  this  blood-washed  anny.     Hallelujah  !" 


THE  PREACHERS'  MEETING, 

at  6  P.  M.,  on  Friday,  was  opened  in  the  most  infonnal  manner.  "  Lot  us," 
said  the  leader,  '■  pray  personally — Lord  bless  me — cleanse  mc — help  me  to 
preach  and  live  true  holiness." 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  71 

"  If  there  are  any  dear  brethren  here  seeking  purity  of  heart,  let  them  now 
audibly  pray,  telling  into  the  listening  ear  of  a  present  Jesus  their  wants." 

"  0,  Jesus,"  said  a  preacher,  "  thou  art  acquainted  with  my  leanness  and 
weakness.  How  little  I  have  done  for  thee;  how  dull  and  formal  all  my 
services  ;  I  must  have  power.  I  must  die  unto  sin  and  self.  I  am  lost,  if  thou 
wilt  not  here  have  mercy,  and  make  ma  all  right.     Spirit  of  burning,  come  !" 

Here  a  voice  full  of  pathos  and  holy  confidence  sang — 

"  In  the  promises  I  trust, 
-   Now  I  feel  the  blood  applied ; 
I  am  prostrate  in  the  dust, 
I  with  Christ,  am  crucified." 

Then  the  chorus  was  taken  up — 

"  I  am  trusting  Lord  in  thee,"  &c. 

Dr.  Lowrey  here  intimated  that  a  few  passages  of  Scripture  might  be  quoted, 
and  gave  one,  expressive  of  his  own  present  relation  to  Christ.  Others  followed, 
and  the  range  of  texts  rapidly  announced,  were  all  full  of  comfort. 

"  I  would  like  to  know  how  many  here  are  ministers  of  the  Gospel.  Ijet 
them  rise."     Over  fifty  men  stood  up. 

"  Now,"  he  continued,  "  I  should  like  to  know  how  many  have  experienced 
the  purification  promised  the  sons  of  Levi.     Will  you  rise  ?" 

Only  a  small  proportion  of  the  number  answered. 

"  Please,  brethren,  indulge  me  a  little  further.  How  many  are  here  expressly 
to  seek  it — hungering  and  thirsting  after  it,  and  anxious  to  have  this  power,  to 
go  in  advance  of  your  flocks  and  lead  them  up  to  possess  the  goodly  laud.  Will 
you  rise  ? 

About  a  score  deliberately  rose  and  stood  on  their  feet. 

"  Now,  let  us  come  forward  here  and  pray  together.  There  is  a  good  deal  of 
talking  and  theorizing,  and  we  all  agree  that  the  blessing  may  be  had  instan- 
taneously.    Let  us  ask  for  it." 

Brother  Boole — "  Out  of  the  number  of  ministers  here  who  confessedly  do 
not  enjoy  full  salvation,  only  a  few  have  knelt  to  seek  it.     What  of  the  others  ?" 

Dr.  Lowrey — "  I  should  suppose  all  the  others  have  the  blessing  Surely,  if 
they  have  not,  and  are  not  seeking  it — groaning  after  it,  the  thought  is  painful 
that  they  remain  non-commital." 

At  this  moment  there  was  sad  silence  for  a  time,  and  two  or  three  more  came 
and  fell  on  their  knees. 

Brother  Gray — "  We  have  all  been  just  where  these  brethren  are  now.  We 
had  to  meet  the  responsibility,  and  pa.ss  through  an  ordeal  of  fire.  We  know 
how  it  feels  to  give  up  ministerial  dignity  and  cast  all  at  the  foot  of  the  cross. 
We  are  to  seek  this,  not  from  personal  considerations — but  purely,  and  entirely, 
to  be  holy.  We  pray  for  power ;  let  us  rather  ask  to  be  cleansed.  Now,  Lord, 
touch  these  hearts  with  fire  ;  melt  them  into  tender  simplicity." 


72  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

A  preacher — "  Pray  for  me,  brethren." 

Dr.  Lowrey — "  Pray  for  yourself." 

Brother  Davies  then  broke  out  in  supplication,  followed  by  Dr.  Levy,  that  the 
unsanctified  might  now  be  baptized  with  the  Holy  Ghost. 

"  Let  all  kneel,"  said  the  leader  ;  "  pray  for  us  ministers." 

A  brother — "  Lord,  we  have  come  to  a  crisis  here.  Help  us  to  give  up  all 
unbelief  by  believing.  May  we  cease  forever  trying^  and  just  receive  the 
blessing." 

The  starting  of  a  hymn  at  length  ended  what  was,  to  some,  an  agonizing 
period  of  suspense. 

A  youthful  preacher  propounded  a  series  of  questions,  in  relation  to  the  pos- 
sibility of  being  so  saved  that  all  carnal  thoughts  shall  die,  and  all  pride  and 
vanity,  ambition,  and  irritation  of  temper,  shall  be  taken  out  of  our  nature. 

The  colloquy  here  became  general.  Freely  questions  were  asked,  and  answered 
by  Revs.  Boole,  John  Thompson,  Dr.  Levy  and  others. 

The  latter  naively  brought  up  a  sentiment  in  one  of  Wesley's  hymns,  which 
he  said  used  to  appear  extravagant  until  he  experienced  its  truth.  Now,  although 
a  Baptist,  he  would  quote  it  and  emphasize  it,  to  this  dear  Methodist  brother, 
who  seemed  to  doubt  whether  such  a  salvation  was  possible  as  is  implied  in  the 
line: 

"  Take  away  our  bent  to  sinning." 

The  Doctor  further  remarked  that  he  had  succeeded  in  getting  the  hymn  and 
the  doctrine  it  teaches  into  the  new  Baptist  hymn-book,  now  coming  largely  into 
use  in  that  denomination. 

The  young  brother  still  sought  for  information  He  had  been  converted,  and 
thought  he  loved  God  with  all  his  heart.  Being  put  in  the  ministry  and  sent 
to  a  field  of  labor,  some  of  his  people  approached  him  with  the  hope  that  he 
could  lead  them  on  in  holiness.  He  wanted  to  do  so,  but  the  irritation  conse- 
quent on  taking  care  of  his  charge,  convinced  him  he  must  have  a  deeper  work. 
He  talked  fluently,  and  evinced  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  way  of  full  salva- 
tion ;  but  he  wanted  to  be  sure  that  the  provision  was  applicable  to  his  particular 
case. 

Brother  Boole  abruptly  declared  that  quibbling  was  offensive  to  God  at  this 
point.  If  God  had  promised  to  do  the  work,  He  was  responsible  for  all  conse- 
quences. He  never  would  or  could  go  back  on  his  word,  and  anybody  who 
fully  trusted  that  word,  would  come  through  all  right.  He  wondered  that  people 
professing  to  want  purity,  were  so  slow  to  move  ;  they  ought  to  bite  like  hungry 
fish. 

The  sound  of  the  bell  for  public  service  at  this  moment  ended  this  interesting 
and  deeply  impressive  conversation. 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  73 


THE  SILENT  MEETING. 


At  the  hour  for  evening  preaching,  the  congregation  was  called  together 
by  the  usual  summons  of  the  bell.  Earlier  in  the  evening  the  question  had 
been  asked  :  "  Who  is  to  preach  to-night  ?"  and  information,  derived  from 
authoritative  sources,  that  Rev.  Mr.  Foote  would  have  charge  of  the  services, 
obtained  general  circulation.  It  was  known,  therefore,  to  but  few,  that  the 
whole  order  of  the  meeting  had  been  changed.  Previous  to  attempting  a 
sketch  of  this  extraordinary  occasion,  it  is  due  to  the  National  Association 
to  record  the  fact  that  no  part  in  the  service  is  assigned  at  any  time  to  the 
individual  members  without  earnest  prayer;  and  if,  after  a  brother  is  as- 
assigned  to  duty,  his  colleagues  are  decidedly  impressed  that  the  mind  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  is  that  a  different  order  of  work  should  be  observed,  he  is  ex- 
pected to  cheerfully  give  place  to  any  suggested  change. 

Some  may  regard  this  as  enthusiastic  fanaticism,  as  on  the  evening  we 
purpose  to  describe.  A  member  of  the  congregation  did,  who,  with  his  wife, 
had  come  to  the  grounds  for  the  purpose  of  listening  to  a  sermon.  When 
he  heard  the  statement  of  the  President  of  the  Association,  he  said  to  his 
companion  :  "  This  is  all  foolishness ;  let  us  go  home."  But  we  may  not 
deal  with  this  subject  in  so  light  a  manner.  We  remember  when  the  hea- 
ven-received Cookman  was  expected  to  preach  at  one  of  the  National  Camp- 
meetings  on  a  Sabbath  evening,  to  the  immense  throng,  attracted  largely  by 
the  expectation  of  hearing  him,  that  he  said  his  subject  was  entirely  taken 
from  him  and  he  could  only  deliver  an  exhortation.  We  remember  the  ef- 
fect of  that  exhortation,  how  the  outposts  of  Satan  were  storuied  and  carried 
that  very  night  at  Manheim.  God  does  direct  His  servants  in  the  work  to 
be  done ;  and  the  success  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ  among  men  is  to  be  at- 
tributed to  a  fact  that  is  neither  'promisory  nor  prophetic,  hut  always  oper- 
ating, viz  :  '•'•Lo  1 1  am  with  you  alioay,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world." 

In  opening  the  meeting  on  this  Friday  evening,  the  President  gave  exhi- 
bition of  his  rare  qualities  as  a  leader,  or,  in  military  phrase,  a  general. 
With  a  voice  that,  ringing  out  clear  as  the  tones  of  a  bell,  was  distinctly 
heard  throughout  the  entire  enclosure,  he  uttered  the  first  great  sentence  of 
the  evening  meeting — "  Silence  \"  Within  the  immediate  circle  of  the  tents 
all  was  hushed ;  but  those  who  had  not  yet  taken  their  place  in  the  worship- 
ing assembly  were  still  moving  about,  and  the  low  hum  of  voices  could  be 
distinctly  heard.  Again:  he  shouted — "  Let  every  person  within  the  circle 
of  the  tents  be  silent  \"  Slowly  the  voices  without  were  subdued  to  a  whis- 
per, but  a  low  conversation  was  carried  on  in  the  tents.  A  third  time,  as  if 
inspired  with  authority,  he  said — "  I  command  every  person  on  this  ground 


74  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

to  be  silent,  before  the  Lord  !"  The  effect  was  magical — a  profound  stillness 
reigned  over  all. 

It  was  a  quiet  summer  evening ;  scarcely  a  zephyr  stirred  the  leaves  of  the 
forest.  The  chirping  katydid  seemed  to  have  suspended  his  evening  love- 
song  to  his  mate,  and  all  above  and  around  was  still.  The  season  so  impressed 
us  that  we  were  carried  in  thought  to  the  apocalyptic  vision  of  the  opening 
of  the  seals — "And  when  he  had  opened  the  seventh  seal,  there  was  silence 
in  heaven  about  the  space  of  half  an  hour.  And  I  saw  the  seven  angels 
which  stood  before  God ;  and  to  them  were  given  seven  trumpets.  And 
another  angel  came  and  stood  at  the  altar,  having  a  golden  censer ;  and  there 
was  given  him  much  incense,  that  he  should  offer  it  with  the  prayers  of  all 
saints  upon  the  golden  altar,  which  was  upon  the  throne.  And  the  smoke 
of  the  incense,  with  the  prayers  of  the  saints,  ascended  up  before  God  out 
of  the  angel's  hands." 

In  the  deep  solemnity  of  the  hour,  Mr.  Inskip,  in  a  subdued  voice,  said 
the  order  of  the  exercises  had  been  changed  by  a  remarkable  chain  of  circum- 
stances. "In  the  morning  meeting  of  the  Association,  Bro.  Foote  had  been 
detailed  for  the  evening  service.  It  was  not  in  the  minds  of  any  of  us  to 
change  this  arrangement;  but  during  the  afternoon,  several  of  us  were 
impressed  that  our  dear  brother  ought  not  to  preach  to-night.  We  bowed 
together  before  God  in  earnest  pleading,  for  we  did  not  know  what  else  to  do. 
While  on  on  our  knees,  our  convictions  were  increased,  and  we  resolved  to 
find  Bro.  Foote,  and  tell  him  all  about  it.  We  found  him  on  his  knees,  at 
prayer;  we  knelt  by  his  side,  and  one  of  us  then  said :  '  Dear  brother  it  is 
our  conviction  that  you  ought  not  to  preach  ;  God  is  going  to  manage  this 
thing  for  his  own  glory,  and  he  don't  want  our  aid."  We  found  that  the 
same  weight  which  had  been  rolled  on  us  was  oppressing  him  also ;  for  half 
an  hour  he  had  been  pleading  with  God  for  divine  help  and  direction  in  the 
services.  We  all  saw  it  was  of  the  Lord.  This  is  our  situation.  We  have 
given  the  meeting  into  the  hands  of  the  Lord  ;  let  Him  do  as  it  seemeth  to 
Him  best. 

"  Let  us  proceed  with  great  caution — waiting  solemnly  before  God.  If  any 
of  you  think  you  are  here  to  get  happy  and  to  shout,  I  want  to  tell  you, 
beforehand,  that  this  meeting  is  not  for  you.  Let  everybody  remember  he  is 
on  sacred  ground,  and  in  the  presence  of  the  great  Jehovah  ;  for,  if  He  had 
put  it  into  the  hearts  of  the  ministers  to  leave  this  meeting  in  His  hands.  He 
must  have  some  great  purpose  to  serve,  and  He  will  be  here  to  work  wonders 
to-night. 

"  Now,  I  don't  want  a  word  spoken,  a  hymn  sung,  or  the  least  noise  in  any 
way.  If  God  lets  his  floods  come  over  your  soul,  keep  it  to  yourself,  if  you 
possibly  can.  Do  not  grieve  the  Spirit  I  don't  know  how  God  will  reveal 
himself,  but  one  thing  I  do  know,  He  will  come  to  us  with  mighty  power.   0, 


A   MODERN    PENTECOST.  75 

brothers,  let  us  get  down  low  before  Him.  I  intend  to  go  down  deeper  to- 
niglit  than  I  have  ever  gone  in  all  my  life.  This  is  the  turning  point  in 
this  meeting.  God  is  going  to  give  us  the  greatest  victory  we  have  ever  had. 
I  adjure  you,  in  the  name  of  the  living  God,  be  careful  and  prayerful  now  " 

Having  uttered  these  admonitions  and  precautions^  he  said  :  "I  want  every- 
body to  go  out  of  the  altar ;  do  it  quietly  ;  remove  your  camp-chairs  outside ; 
be  as  noiseless  as  you  can ;  make  no  delay,  but  keep  looking  up  to  God  in 
prayer."  Quickly,  and  with  great  circumspection,  these  orders  were  obeyed, 
and  the  whole  space  was  left  vaeant.  Then,  stepping  down  from  the  platform, 
he  said  :  "I,  as  President  of  this  Association,  want  to  be  endowed  with  power 
from  on  high,  so  that  I  may  direct  these  services  aright.  I  want  the  deepest 
baptism  of  my  life.  Here  are  ministers  who  want  more  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  so 
that  they  may  preach  the  gospel  with  fervency  and  power ;  then  there  are  people 
here  who  know  their  weaknesses  ;  let  us  make  a  clean  breast  of  it.  I  want  all 
the  members  of  the  Association  to  come  to  this  altar.  (They  kneel.)  Let  all 
the  preachers  in  the  stand  bow  here  before  the  Lord ;  (every  one  does  so.) 
Steady,  brethren.  Now  let  every  preacher  in  the  congregation  come  ;  (others 
come  forward.)  Now  the  exhorters ;  the  class  leaders ;  the  Sunday-school 
superintendents  ;  all  the  members  of  the  churches." 

These  were  represented  as  the  summons  was  issued  to  each,  until  at  least  five 
hundred  people  were  prostrate  before  God.  "Now,  again  I  charge  you  to  be 
very  still — be  so  still  that  you  can  hear  the  one  next  to  you  breathe.  Lord  God, 
help  us!" 

This  was  followed  by  a  long  season  of  deep,  silent  heart- searching;  in  which 
every  Christian  seemed  to  bow  at  the  cross  and  wait  the  will  of  God. 

Everything  about  the  movement  was  extraordinary.  Levity,  wherever  it 
prevailed,  was  utterly  banished,  and  the  awful  silence  produced  a  degree  of 
seriousness  and  self  examination  which  led  hundreds  face  to  face  with  the 
startling  inquiry — "  Have  I  any  religion  ?  My  life  is  drifting  on  without  solid 
experience.  The  mind  and  spirit  of  Christ  is  not  in  me.  I  have  neither 
disposition  or  power  to  work  for  God.     Lord  save  me  !" 

Strangers  entering  the  grounds,  as  many  did  after  the  service  commenced, 
stood  amazed  for  some  time  surveying  the  scene — a  vast  congregation  on  their 
knees,  and  some  of  the  leading  ministers  full  length  on  the  ground  with  their 
faces  covered,  and  the  stillness  of  death  prevailing ;  then  they  too  bowed  before 
the  Lord. 

At  last  the  hour  came  for  preparing  to  retire  ;  then  the  hosts  of  the  Lord 
being  released,  shouted  the  words  of  victory,  the  President  himself  being  so  full 
of  the  Spirit  that  he  could  no  longer  restrain  it,  shouted — "  Glory  to  the  Lamb !" 

The  pent-up  fire  now  began  to  blaze  around  the  ground,  as  various  companies 
sought  their  tents,  saying  "Surely  the  Lord  is  in  this  place!" 


76  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 


FOURTH  DAY. 


THE   EARLY   MEETING. 

The  meetings  of  the  day  were  inaugurated  by  the  5  o'clock  service  at  the 
Tabernacle  under  the  conduct  of  Rev.  Wm.  McDonald.  The  leader  said  it  was 
his  conviction  that  this  must  be  strictly  a  prayer-meeting.  We  had  a  great  bat- 
tle to  fight,  and  it  must  be  fought  on  our  knees.  Singing  would  not  secure  the 
victory,  and  talking  would  not  do  it.     It  must  be  by  praying  and  believing. 

After  a  long  season  of  prayer,  opportunity  was  given  for  remarks  in  experi- 
ence. 

Rev.  Wm.  P.  Ray,  from  East  Cambridge,  Mass.,  said  he  had  come  to  this 
meeting  for  no  common  blessing.  Some  of  the  young  men  from  Harvard  Uni- 
versity had  come  with  him,  and  they  too  expected  a  mighty  baptism.  They  had 
good  things  at  home,  but  they  had  never  seen  it  after  this  sort  before. 

Rev.  L.  R.  Dunn  felt  impressed  to  say  that  we  need  not  strive  to  make  God 
willing  to  bless.  He  is  infinitely  willing.  How  soon  Elijah  secured  the  answer 
by  a  prayer  that  occupied  but  little  less  than  two  minutes,  and  the  fire  fell  upon 
the  altar  and  consumed  the  sacrifice,  and  even  the  stones  of  the  altar. 

While  Bro.  Dunn  led  in  prayer  the  power  of  God  was  especially  felt,  and 
faith  greatly  increased.  Many  souls  were  drawing  near,  and  claiming  the  prom- 
ises, as  the  leader  inquired  :  "  What  Scripture  have  we  that  we  can  rest  upon 
as  the  basis  of  faith  for  victory  now  ?" 

"  What  thing  soever  ye  desire  when  ye  pray,  believe  that  ye  receive,  and  ye 
shall  have  it." 

"  This  is  the  confidence  that  we  have  in  Him,  that  if  we  ask  anything  accord- 
ing to  His  will,  he  heareth  us,  and  if  we  know  that  He  hears  us,  we  know  that 
we  have  the  petitions  that  we  have  desu-ed  of  Him." 

Then  followed  short  testimonies : 

One  said,  "This  is  indeed  a  mighty  meeting  to  my  soul.  God  has  done  just 
what  I  asked  for.  I  must  confess  it.  After  I  had  been  the  means  of  leading 
many  others  into  this  fullness,  by  some  misapprehension  I  fell  into  darkness  and 
lost  the  blessing  ;  but  glory  to  God  !  it  is  all  right  now." 

A  sister — "  I  came  here  for  full  salvation,  and  He  now  saves  me  fully." 

A  brother — "  The  Lord  has  done  a  mighty  work  for  me.  Refining  fire  is 
going  through  my  soul." 

Another  said — "  I  thank  God  I  have  found  what  I  have  been  seeking.  He 
fills  my  soul.     Jesus  saves  me." 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  77 

After  other  testimonies,  the  doxology  was  sung  twice,  and  while  singing,  a 
richer  shower  of  grace  fell  upon  the  people,  and  still  others  were  saved  ;  one 
dear  brother  declared  "I  am  fully  saved.  Glory  !  Grlory  !  Glory  !  "  This  was 
a  rich  and  glorious  beginning  of  a  blessed  and  memorable  day. 


RECITING  SCRIPTURE. 

The  lively  exercises  of  the  morning  were  resumed  at  8  A.  M.,  and  nothing 
impressed  us  more  than  the  singularly  well  chosen  series  of  texts,  for  the  recita- 
tion of  which  ten  minutes  were  allowed.  Bible  phraseology  is  a  safe  and 
prominent  feature  of  every  service.  The  Bible  is  the  great  standard  of  appeal, 
whether  the  question  be  one  of  doctrine,  morals  or  experience. 

We  can  hardly  give  a  verbatim  report ;  but  the  following  will  indicate  the 
unity  of  sentiment  prevailing  at  the  moment. 

A  minister,  wishing  to  confess  Christ's  mediatorial  work  and  its  personal 
realization  and  benefits,  said  :  "He  was  wounded  for  my  transgressions:  He 
was  bruised  for  my  iniquities  ;  and  with  hh  stripes  I  am  healed.''' 

"  He  that  Cometh  to  God  must  believe  that  he  is,  and  that  he  is  a  rewarder 
of  them  that  diligently  seek  him." 

"  Then  shall  we  know,  if  we  follow  on  to  know  the  Lord.  His  going  forth 
is  prepared  as  the  morning  ;  and  he  will  come  to  us  as  the  rain,  as  the  latter 
and  former  rain  unto  the  earth." 

"He  will  give  grace  and  gloiy,  and  no  good  thing  will  he  withhold  from  them 
that  walk  uprightly." 

"  Thou  shalt  be  as  a  watered  garden." 

"  The  Lord  is  my  light,  and  my  salvation;  whom  shall  I  fear  ?" 

"  They  shall  be  mine  saith  the  Lord,  when  I  make  up  my  jewels." 

"  They  that  wait  on  the  Lord  shall  renew  their  strength.  They  shall  mount 
up  with  wings  as  eagles." 

"  The  law  of  the  spirit  of  life  in  Christ  Jesus  hath  made  me  free  from  the 
law  of  sin  and  death." 

"  Thou  wilt  keep  him  in  perfect  peace  whose  mind  is  stayed  on  thee." 

"  Let  the  words  of  my  mouth,  and  the  meditation  of  my  heart  be  acceptable 
in  thy  sight,  0  Lord,  my  strength  and  my  Redeemer." 

"  To  present  you  holy  and  unblamable  and  unreprovable  in  his  sight." 

"  Truly  God  is  good  to  Israel,  even  to  such  as  are  of  a  clean  heart." 

"  He  that  believeth  on  the  Son  of  God,  hath  the  witness  in  himself" 

"  There  is  no  fear  in  love." 

"  Who  is  like  unto  thee,  0  Lord — glorious  in  holiness,  fearful  in  praises, 
doing  wonders." 

"  The  Lord  hath  done  great  things  for  us  whereof  we  are  glad." 

"  Because  the  love  of  God  is  shed  abroad  in  our  hearts  by  the  Holy  Ghost 
given  unto  us." 

"  If  ye  abide  in  me,  and  my  words  abide  in  you,  ye  shall  ask  what  ye  will, 
and  it  shall  be  done  unto  you." 

"  My  cup  runneth  over." 


78  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL    CAMP-MEETING. 

SATURDAY,  lo  A.  M. 
SERMON  BY  REV.  WM.  H.  BOOLE,  OF  NEW  YORK  CITY. 


"  Bat  ye  shall  receive  power  after  that  the  Holy  Ghost  is  come  upon  yoxiT 

Acte  1  :  8. 

There  is  much  in  tliat  word  "power."  Its  possession  is  the  condition  and 
assurance  of  success  in  any  undertaking.  The  possession,  not  the  promise  of  it ; 
for  though  a  promise  is  of  value  because  of  the  ability  and  integrity  of  the 
promiser,  yet  it  is  the  fulfillment  of  it  that  contains  the  power  of  the  pi'omise. 
God's  promises  are  all  valuable  even  as  his  word  only ;  but  chiefly  because  of 
what  is  contained  in  their  fulfillment — the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

Power  belongeth  unto  God — all  power — man  is  powerless ;  and  for  all  the 
works  of  mankind,  of  whatever  kind,  to  which  men  are  called  in  their  present 
fallen  state,  our  Creator  has  provided  the  suitable  foi'ces  and  power. 

That  "  knowledge  may  increase"  in  the  present  advanced  stage  of  Christian 
civilization,  it  has  become  necessary  that  a  man  should  do  as  much  in  ten  years 
as  the  ancients  accomplished  in  fifty.  So  God  put  wisdom  in  man,  and  directed 
him  to  where  lay  concealed  the  reserved  resources  the  Creator  had  hid  in  nature's 
dominion ;  and  steam,  air,  water,  electricity,  &c.,  are  brought  under  contribu- 
tion to  the  will  of  man,  to  annihilate  time  by  lightning  express  trains,  to  break 
liuge  masses  of  stubborn  materials,  to  convey  his  messages  thousands  of  miles  in 
a  moment.  These  are  God's  forces,  provided  by  him  for  man's  help.  I  have 
seen  a  plate  of  solid  iron  ten  inches  thick,  broken  like  a  pipe  stem  by  the  force 
of  a  column  of  water  no  bigger  than  your  little  finger.  This  is  the  power  of  God 
as  displayed  in  his  physical  forces.  In  the  legislature  of  Christian  nations  there 
is  found  the  acknowledgment  that  "power  belongeth  unto  God."  If  you  were 
to  discover  a  new  force  in  nature,  and  by  its  application  to  novel  machinery  of 
your  own  invention  should  produce  new  and  marvelous  eflects,  you  would  be 
allowed  to  take  out  an  exclusive  right  or  patent  on  the  machinery,  and  the 
application  of  such  newly  discovered  power  ;  but  you  could  get  no  patent  on 
the  power  itself;  it  is  not  yours;  no,  not  by  discovery;  it  is  the  Lord's;  he 
made  it,  and  by  an  exclusive  universal  patent  he  is  the  sole  proprietor  of  all 
forces  and  powers. 

There  are  many  powers — powers  of  difierent  natures,  as  physical,  intel- 
lectual, spiritual ;  and  wisdom  is  manifested  in  the  suitable  application  of  any 
power  to  its  own  proper  use  or  purpose.  And  to  obtain  a  fair  understanding 
of  the  real  import  of  our  text  it  is  necessary  to  consider  what  is  the  true 
nature  of  the  work  to  be  done  by  the  power  herein  promised. 

Well,  is  it  not  to  build  pyramids,  or  drive  steamer.^,  or  run  trains,  or  work 
telegraphs.  For  all  these  proper  things  God  has  provided  suitable  powers 
among  the  forces  in  nature.  This  is  not,  then,  a  physical  power.  Neither 
is  it  to  teach  arts  or  sciences.  The  nations  are  not  to  become  learned  and 
cultured  in  the  sciences  and  arts  directly  by  the  dispensation  of  this  prom- 
ised power. 


A    MODERN   PENTECOST.  79 

The  Greeks  were  cultured  and  refined  in  much ;  the  musty  records  of 
Chinese  history  show  that  that  people,  thousands  of  years  ago,  were  not  devoid 
of  culture  of  a  philosophical  and  scientific  kind ;  yet  these  nations  were 
utterly  devoid  of  this  promised  power.  It  is  not,  therefore,  an  intellectual 
power. 

What  is  the  work  to  he  done  by  the  possession  and  use  of  it  ?  In  a  word, 
it  is  the  power  to  save  the  world  of  mankind.  Nothing  new  can  be  added  to 
this  stereotyped  statement;  but  we  must  continue  to  repeat  it  until  the 
mighty  Holy  Ghost  is  given  in  full  measure  to  all  the  Church  ;  and  the  whole 
world  is  saved.  This  world  is  a  lost  world,  wrecked  and  stranded  on  a  lee 
shore;  turned  upside  down  by  the  wonderful  force  of  that  "  bad  miracle  of 
hell  " — sin.  The  first  work  of  this  promised  power  is  to  destroy  sin.  But  sin 
is  not  located  in  the  mountains,  else  we  could  apply  the  physical  forces  placed 
at  our  command,  and  beat  them  small  as  dust.  Neither  is  it  in  the  body, 
the  flesh  of  man ;  else  you  might  by  medication  and  purifying  processes  ab- 
stract and  destroy  it.  Neither  is  it  located  in  the  intellect,  though  this  is 
impaired  by  its  ravages;  so  you  cannot  by  much  reasoning,  and  choice  and 
conclusive  arguments,  reach  the  seat  of  the  disease.  But  sin  is  located  in  the 
spiritual  nature  of  man,  for,  "  out  of  the  heart  proceed  adulteries,  fornication, 
evil  thoughts,  thefts,  blasphemies,"  &c.  If,  then,  sin  is  to  be  destroyed,  and 
mankind  cleansed  of  its  pollution  and  saved  from  its  present  and  eternal  curse 
by  this  promised  power  given  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  it  must  be  a  spiritual 
power ;  inward,  unseen,  but  wonderfully  felt.  There  is  something  more 
besides  the  destruction  of  sin.  By  this  power  the  kingdom  of  God  is  to  be 
builded.  But  this  kingdom  is  invisible.  "  The  kingdom  of  God  is  within 
you,"  and  this  kingdom  is  established  in  the  regeneration,  the  transformation, 
the  sanctification,  the  present  glorification  of  the  soul  and  spirit  of  man. 
Thus  we  reach  the  conclusion  that  the  power  received  upon  the  gift  of  the  Holy 
Ghost  is  a  vital,  spiritual  power, which,  in  its  burning  energy,  purifies  and  trans- 
forms those  whom  it  possesses,'  and  fills  them  also  with  a  divine  anointing, 
effectual  in  its  manifestation  to  the  regeneration  and  transforming  of  many. 
This  is  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost  in  you,  and  through  you,  as  promised 
in  this  text. 

It  is  of  interest  to  note  the  relation  of  the  little  word  ''  but,"  which  begins 
this  text,  to  this  view  of  the  matter.  It  connects  what  goes  before  with  what 
follows,  and  also  introduces  a  new  thought. 

The  earnest  and  ambitious  inquiry  of  the  disciples  was,  "  Lord  wilt  thou  at 
this  time  restore  the  Kingdom  to  Israel  ?"  The  full  proof  of  his  divine 
Messiahship  was  now  before  their  eyes,  in  his  healed  hands  and  side ;  they 
no  longer  doubted  his  ability  to  establish  his  promised  kingdom  at  once  among 
his  enemies,  and  by  a  single  word  claim  and  possess  the  throne  of  their  father 
David.  But  their  first  crude,  material  idea  of  the  nature  of  this  kingdom 
remained  unchanged  by  the  astounding  fact  of  their  Master's  resurrection. 
They  believed  in  the  temporal,  earthly  reign  of  Christ.  Therefore  said  they, 
"Wilt  thou  restore  the  Kingdom  ?"  By  this  they  meant  only  the  restoration  of 
Israel's  ancient  magnificence  and  splendor,  as  she  once  shone  the  "  head"  and 
not  the  "  tail"  of  all  nations.  In  his  response,  Christ  severs  the  cord  of  their 
ambitious  expectations,  but  reveals  to  their  wondering  minds  the  true  idea  of 
his  Kingdom,  and  also  the  responsible  relations  which  they  themselves  were 
to  sustain  to  it  as  its  builders  and  promoters.     "  It  is  not  for  you  to  know," 


80  SIXTEENTH   NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

he  answers,  "  the  times  and  the  seasons" — the  designs  of  the  Father  concern- 
ing the  Kingdom  of  which  you  speak,  "  But  ye  shall  receive  power  after  that 
the  Holy  Ghost  is  come  upon  you."  The  spiritual  nature  of  his  Kingdom 
now  to  be  set  up,  he  half  conceals,  half  discloses ;  and  turning  their  minds 
from  himself,  as  they  said,  ''Wilt  thou  restore,"  etc.,  he  directs  their  attention 
to  themselves  as  the  honored,  responsible  agents  in  the  founding  of  the  com- 
ing kingdom  of  a  new  and  spiritual  dispensation. 

This  is  the  method  of  this  power ;  the  Holy  Ghost  dwelling  in  Christ's 
disciples,  and  acting  through  these  charged  batteries  upon  mankind,  when 
brought  in  contact  with  them,  to  the  awakening  and  saving  of  multitudes. 
By  saved  men,  are  men  to  be  saved. 

I  will  say  further,  that  in  this  argument  the  weakness  of  the  instruments 
is  not  to  be  taken  into  the  account.  It  is  a  common  objection  on  the  part  of 
Christians  when  pressed  to  seek  for  the  full  baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  as  an 
endowment  for  labor — ''Oh,  I  am  so  weak  and  of  so  little  ability,  the  Saviour 
can  do  nothing  with  me."  Consider  now  to  whom  he  was  talking :  whom 
did  he  chose  ?  The  weakest  set  of  men  that  ever  followed  a  leader.  They 
were  dull  of  understanding,  mentally  not  above  an  average  grade,  hard  of 
heart,  slow  of  faith ;  and  altogether  they  appear  before  the  day  of  Pentecost 
very  like  children  quarreling  for  an  unequal  distribution  of  gifts  and  honors. 

Peter  denied  his  Master  with  oaths  and  curses,  while  John  with  all  the 
others  forsook  him  and  fled.  Christ's  selection  of  these  weak  things  for  his 
first  disciples  and  ministers  is  the  final  answer  to  all  such  objections  as  we  have 
named.  Indeed,  it  is  written:  "He  hath  chosen  the  weak  things  of  the 
earth  to  confound  ^the  things  that  are  mighty."  If  you  say,  "  I  am  noth- 
ing,^ God  will  not  be  ofiended,  for  you  and  all  men  are  "as  nothing  before 
Him."  But  why  do  you  hold  on  so  tightly  to  nothing  ?  Let  nothing  go  for 
nothing,  and  the  Lord  may  then  make  something  for  himself  out  of  you. 
The  slender  thread  of  copper  wire  which  lies  under  your  feet,  is  a  thing  with- 
out life  or  sense.  There  is  no  power  in  it.  You  may  lay  it  on  a  barrel  of 
gunpowder,  but  it  does  no  harm.  It  can  neither  talk  nor  write.  But  if  you 
only  apply  to  its  end  that  wondrous  invisible  force  we  call  the  "  electric  spark." 
instantly  it  "  receives  power,"  and  under  three  thousand  miles  of  unfathomed 
ocean  it  flashes  the  lightening  message  to  merchant,  peer  and  king,  and  speaks 
forth  to  the  nations  the  "  wonderful  works  of  God."  Now  bring  it  in  contact 
with  that  mass  of  twenty-two  tons  of  dead  powder  lying  in  the  cavity  of  that 
treacherous  rock  in  the  harbor  of  the  "  Golden  Gate "  on  the  California 
coast  J — that  fatal  rock  on  which  millions  of  the  commerce  of  the  State  has 
foundered  and  gone  down,  thus  retarding  and  diminishing  the  prosperity  of 
the  people; — and  in  an  instant,  as  the  fiery  spark  fills  the  dead  wire  and  com- 
municates with  the  dead  powder,  both  are  kindled  in  a  mighty  flame,  whose 
dreadful  force  expanding,  rends  and  tears  into  smallest  fragments  the  solid 
granite;  the  opposing  mountain  is  removed,  and  the  deep  waters  cover  the 
place,  and  wait  to  bear  in  safety  on  their  supporting  bosom  every  sail  which 
has  been  waiting  in  the  mouth  of  the  golden  harbor.  Thus  the  senseless 
things  of  earthly  nature,  always  obedient  to  the  will  of  their  3Iaker,  become 
invested  with  "  power  from  on  high  "  when  touched  with  the  finger  of  their 
God.  And  if  you  are  but  a  worm,  as  much  a  "  nothing  "  as  a  strand  of  cop- 
per wire,  onfi/  be  still  and  let  God  touch  you  with  his  electric  fpark  and  you 
too  shall  "  receive  power," — power  to  buru,tomove  the  mountains,  to  "speak 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  81 

forth  the  wonderful  works  of  God."     The  Lord  Grod  of  the  promise,  send 
upon  us  the  Holy  Ghost ! 

I  would  now  speak  to  you  of  some  of  the  consequences  of  this  baptism. 
It  brings  out  in  marked  boldness  and  relief,  the  individuality  of  the  receiver. 
No  two  human  beings  are  alike  in  all  respects.  There  is  diversity  through- 
out all  God's  domains,  and  no  where  more  than  in  the  human  family.  Each 
of  you  are  the  centre  of  a  circle  of  influence,  and  none  can  be  so  great,  so 
useful  where  you  are  as  yourself  Doubtless,  each  man  and  woman  has  re- 
ceived of  God  a  special  life  mission  which  is  made  known  to  us  when  we 
consent  to  the  promised  anointing,  which  alone  can  qualify  us  to  fulfill  our 
end.  And  let  me  say  that  there  is  more  of  any  man  with  God  in  him,  than 
in  the  greatest  man  without  God.  But  it  takes  this  baptism  to  bring  out  a 
man's  individuality.  Peter  becomes  all  Peter  in  the  bold  prominence  of  his 
peculiar  characteristics;  and  he  is  not  duplicated  in  any  other  saint.  John 
is  himself,  and  so  is  Paul,  and  so  also,  the  blessed  Lord  will  make  you  all  that 
can  be  made  of  you ;  your  work  and  mission  will  differ  from  all  others  in  its 
special  feature;  for  the  Lord  has  a  place  fur  each  of  you. 

The  Church  is  too  much  like  the  "  milky  way  "  seen  in  the  heavens.  You 
know  this  is  composed  of  innumerable  stars,  so  insignificant  in  size  as  to  lose 
their  individuality,  so  as  to  appear  only  as  a  conglomerate  of  mere  particles, 
shedding  a  mild  and  milky  light. 

The  unanointed  masses  of  our  Church  are  mingled  in  a  vast  conglomerate, 
where  individuality  is  lost,  and  only  a  faint  and  glimmering  light  is  shed  along 
the  milky  way  of  his  path.  The  baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost  makes  a  bright 
particular  star  of  each  son  and  daughter  of  the  Lord. 

Again,  it  annihilates  the  distinction  of  self  interest  in  the  man,  so  that  he 
holds  all  things  in  common  with  Christ.  For  it  is  the  spirit  of  Christ  in 
him,  who  gave  himself  a  ransom  for  all.  Like  produces  like.  The  example 
of  Christ  leads  John  to  say  ''  "We  ought  to  lay  down  our  lives  for  the  breth- 
ren." It  is,  indeed,  according  to  the  spirit  of  this  world  to  adopt  the  maxim 
that  "  Self-preservation  is  the  first  law  of  nature ;"  but  self-sacrifice  is  the 
first  law  of  grace.  Man  is  to  deny — not  some  things — but  himself  The 
true  Christian  "seeketh  not  his  own."  Having  under  the  power  uf  this  bap- 
tism, merged  his  being  and  interests  into  the  spirit  and  destiny  of  Christ, 
this  man,  this  woman,  gives  all  to  Christ's  cause,  as  in  wisdom  he  is  directed. 
Brethren,  this  baptism  will  fill  the  missionary  treasury,  provide  generously 
for  the  costs  of  the  Church  in  the  great  battle  for  the  redemption  of  the  race. 
Chaplain  McCabe  declares  that  these  national  meetings  for  the  promotion  of 
holiness  are  the  most  successful  agency  in  filling  the  treasury  of  the  Church 
Extension  Society.  One  man  on  receiving  this  baptism  gave  $50,000,  and 
many  others  have  given  their  thousands. 

I^ast  January,  a  lady,  not  a  3Iethodist,  who  had  received  the  fullness  of 
the  Spirit,  sent  me  for  the  work  in  Water  Street,  New  York  City,  among  the 
abandoned  classes,  SI, 000,  and  wrote:  "  Perhaps  it  would  interest  you  to 
know  that  the  inclosed  amount  is  the  price  of  some  jewels  of  great  beauty, 
which  even  on  ray  happy  bridal  day,  did  not  yield  me  the  pleasure  they  do 
now,  as  I  put  them  in  the  hands  of  my  dear  Saviour,  for  the  salvation  of  my 
poor  sisters."  How  could  any  woman  do  such  a  thing,  voluntarily,  and  unso- 
licited by  any  other  per-jon,  for  the  sake  of  any  other  than  Christ? 
6 


82  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL    CAMP-MEETING. 

Another  consequence  of  this  baptism  is,  it  makes  the  receiver  willing  and 
fit  for  the  work  of  his  life-mission.  The  quaint  Lorenzo  Dow,  when  asked, 
"  How  may  a  man  know  when  he  is  in  the  order  of  God  in  what  he  is  doing  ?" 
answered,  "  He  will  feel  in  him  the  spirit  of  his  station."  When  Isaiah  first 
saw  the  glory  of  God  he  fell  down  and  cried  out,  "Woe  is  me  !  for  I  am 
undone ;  for  mine  eyes  have  seen  the  King,  the  Lord  of  glory."  But  when 
one  of  the  seraphims  flew  with  a  live  coal,  and  laid  it  on  his  mouth,  and  said, 
"■  Lo  !  this  hath  touched  thy  lips,  and  thine  iniquity  is  taken  away,  and  thy 
sin  is  purged ;"  and  he  heard  the  voice  of  the  Lord  saying,  "  Whom  shall  I 
send,  and  who  will  go  for  us  ?"  immediately  he  responded,  "  Here  am  I ; 
send  me."  In  the  same  moment  th^fiery  baptism  made  him  fit  and  willing. 
So  will  it  also  be  with  you.  So  will  it  be  with  the  whole  Church  of  God  ; 
when  this  baptism  shall  touch  their  lips  and  penetrate  their  hearts ;  the  weak 
and  irresolute  Christian,  a  halting  and  unpurified  Church — all  shall  feel  the 
spirit  of  their  station  and  wondrous  mission,  and  they  shall  leap  forward  to 
fill  the  posts  of  duty,  honor  and  danger ;  for  "  His  people  shall  be  willing  in 
the  day  of  His  power." 

Further,  I  wish  to  speak  a  few  words  on  the  necessity  of  this  baptism.  We 
must  feel  the  mighty  power  of  God  in  ourselves  before  we  can  with  any  con- 
siderable degree  of  faith  and  confidence  expect  to  see  it  fall  on  others.  It  is 
our  knowledge  of  the  power  of  God  as  an  experimental  fact  that  increases 
our  faith  in  expecting  it  on  others.  This  baptism  gives  a  holy  boldness  in  the 
proclamation  of  God's  truth,  and  the  testimony  of  Jesus  The  testimony  is 
confirmed  in  us,  and  we  cannot  but  speak  the  things  which  we  have  heard. 
And  what  is  a  necessity  for  us  at  home  is  a  necessity  also  for  laborers  abroad. 
And  unless  the  corps  of  missionaries  on  the  perilous  and  rocky  fields  of 
heathendom  tarry  for  this  full  baptism  of  fire  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  as  their 
divine  equipment,  I  have  but  little  faith  that  great  or  satisfactory  results  will 
crown  their  efforts.  In  other  words,  I  believe  if  they  all  were  now  so  filled, 
their  faith  would  more  easily  grapple  with  the  difiiculties  of  their  work — the 
battle  sharper  and  the  victories  more  decisive. 

William  Taylor  is  an  example  in  point. 

If  the  entire  army  of  missionaries  were  to  take  ship  and  return  home,  and 
hold  a  National  Camp-meeting,  to  stay  until  endued  with  the  mighty  power 
of  this  promise,  the  world  would  feel  the  shock  of  an  earthquake. 

I  published  a  little  tract  called  "  Wonders  of  Grace,"  relating  instances 
I  had  witnessed  of  the  power  of  grace  in  destroying  sinful  appetites,  such  as 
in  opium  eating,  use  of  tobacco,  &c.  That  in  a  moment  the  appetite  for  any 
of  these  was  extirpated,  and  the  man  felt  in  his  body  that  he  was  healed  of 
that  plague,  and  many  of  these  cases  continued  for  years  to  bear  witness  in 
the  absence  of  all  desire  for  them. 

A  missionary  in  China  to  whom  a  friend  had  sent  a  copy  of  the  tract, 
wrote  home  to  an  officer  of  a  mission  board,  to  know  whether  the  statements 
were  really  true.  "  For  this,"  said  he,  "  is  a  new  theory  in  the  Gospel  to 
me,  and  if  it  is  true,  I  may  give  some  hope  to  some  sincere  Chinamen,  whose 
absorbing  passion  for  opium  only  prevents  thtm  from  accepting  Christ." 
Now  if  that  missionary  had  received  this  full  baptism  of  power  in  his  own 
soul  before  he  went  out  to  his  work,  he  would  have  known  tliat  the  uttermost 
salvation  of  the  Gospel  contains  virtue  to  do  even  that  much  for  such  as  are 
bound  under  the  power  of  Satan,  however  great  his  power  may  be. 


A   MODERN  PENTECOST.  83 

This  baptism  is  necessary  for  the  whole  Church,  to  create  ia  us  all  a  radi- 
calism with  which  to  successfully  attack  the  fiery,  opposing,  progressive  spirit 
of  the  world.  The  world  of  carnal  men  is  full  of  life.  "  Entire  devotion  " 
to  pleasure,  money  getting,  honor  seeking,  dishonest  practices,  is  the  motto  of 
this  "  dead-in-earnest"  generation;  and  if  you  think  the  Devil,  leading  this 
uncounted  host,  is  to  be  easily  conquered,  you  will  be  fatally  mistaken.  This 
world  is  as  wicked  and  radical  as  hell ;  an  army  of  dreadful  prowess,  and  flushed 
with  many  a  victory.  Our  religion  is  radical,  its  spirit  uncompromising  and 
aggressive  ;  it  brands  sin  and  Satan  as  usurpers  here,  and  urges  a  war  of  exter- 
mination against  them.  Now  such  a  baptism  as  the  text  implies  only  can 
make  us  the  superiors  of  this  host  in  zeal,  devotion,  aggression  and  victory. 
"Our  weapons  are  not  carnal,  but  mighty  to  the  pulling  down  of" — what? 
baby  houses  ?  No,  of  "  strongholds  /"  An  earnest,  wicked  man,  full  of  a 
fiery  spirit,  sets  his  eye  and  mind  on  a  coveted  object  to  be  gained,  and  says, 
"  I'll  have  it,  cost  what  may,"  and  without  turning  a  corner  he  goes  for  it, 
and  the  prize  is  gained.  It  is  for  the  Church  of  God  to  fix  her  gaze  upon  a 
lost  world,  and  straightway,  at  all  hazard  and  cost,  go  for  the  prize. 

The  uncle  of  the  first  Napolean  was  trying  to  dissuade  him  from  further  efforts 
at  conquest,  urging  the  dangers  of  failure,  the  strength  of  his  allied  enemies, 
&c.  The  believer  in  destiny  caught  his  uncle  by  the  arm  and  drawing  him  to 
the  window  (it  was  night)  pointed  upward  and  impulsively  said,  "  Do  you  see 
that  star?"  "  No,"  replied  the  astonished  pleader.  "  Well,  I  do,"  rejoined 
Napoleon.  And  if  thou,  0  man  of  God,  art  filled  with  the  spirit  of  Christ,  with 
undimmed  vision  thou  shalt  see  thy  star  of  destiny,  bright  and  victorious,  unseen 
of  the  world ;  and  seeing,  thy  courage  shall  not  fail  thee,  neither  shalt  thou  be 


This  gift  is  intended  to  be  a  permanent  endowment.  "  He  shall  abide  with 
you  forever."  It  is  not  Christ's  desire  to  ever  leave  a  heart  when  he  has  once 
possessed  it,  and  the  power  of  this  baptism  does  not  diminish,  but  increase. 

It  is  possible  to  fall  from  the  highest  degree  of  grace ;  nevertheless  close 
investigation  would  discover  that  the  prime  cause  of  apostacies  and  declension 
in  religious  fei'vor  among  Christians,  is,  so  many  stopping  short  in  the  beginning, 
satisfied  with  too  meagre  a  degree  of  grace  j  they  were  not  struck  through  with 
an  electrical  baptism,  filling  their  being. 

Once  more — the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost  is  a  positive,  specific,  conscious, 
instantaneous  experience.  Here  we  stand  or  fall — Methodism  stands  or  falls. 
Our  Church  has  taught  no  other  doctrine  from  the  beginning  ;  the  Scriptures 
amply  sustain  the  proposition ;  and  the  testimony  of  the  host  of  worthies  upon 
whom  the  Holy  Ghost  has  fallen,  add  their  willing  testimony  to  the  fact.  No 
case  of  being  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost  occurs  in  Scripture,  except  such  as  are 
stated  to  be  of  sudden  descent. 

At  Pentecost  "  suddenly  there  came  a  sound.  *  *  And  they  were  all 
filled,"  &c.  In  Acts  4th,  it  is  written  again,  "They  were  all  filled,"  while  at 
prayer.  In  Acts  10  :  24,  is  written,  "  While  Peter  yet  spake  these  words,  the 
Holy  Ghost /''Z/  on  all  them  which  heard  the  Word,"  and  many  other  passages. 

William  Bramwell  says,  "  The  Lord  for  whom  I  waited  came  suddenly  to  the 
temple  of  ray  heart,"  &c.  William  Carvosso  says,  "  No  sooner  had  I  uttered 
the  words,  '  I  shall  have  the  blessing  now,'  than  refining  fire  went  through  my 
heart,"  &c.  Bishop  Hamline  says,  ^^All  at  once  I  felt  as  though  a  hand, 
omnipotent,  were  laid  on  ray  brow.     *     *     *     j  fgH  ^q   ^j^q  floor.     *     *     * 


84  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL    CAMP- MEETING. 

In  a  few  minutes  the  deep  of  God's  love  swallowed  me  up,"  &c.  Many  more 
could  be  added  to  these. 

In  conclusion,  I  exhort  you,  dear  brethren,  receive  the  Holy  Ghost.  Accept 
the  promised  power.  'Tis  the  legacy  left  to  you  ;  why  do  ye  go  without  your 
rightful  inheritance?  Your  God  commands  you  to  separate  yourselves  from  all 
things  to  receive  this  anointing.  Let  all  go.  No  compromising,  no  parleying. 
It  shall  come  upon  you,  it  shall  cut  you  loose,  every  cord,  every  shore  line  be 
severed.  Some  of  you  will  go  to  India,  others  to  Africa,  some  to  your  counting- 
houses  to  transfer  your  stocks,  your  ware,  your  influence  over  to  Christ. 

Will  you  have  it — have  it  now  ?  Who  among  you,  counting  the  cost  will 
declare,  "  I  will,  I  must  have  this  power !"  The  pledge  of  God  is  in  his  promise. 
Take  it.  "  What  things  soever  ye  desire  when  ye  pray,  believe  ye  receive  them, 
and  ye  shall  have  them." 


AFTERNOON  WORK. 

A  heart  searching  season  followed  the  morning  sermon.  The  people  quietly 
dispersed  to  dinner,  and  the  hour  for  silent  prayer  was  very  generally  ob- 
served in  the  various  tents. 

Bro.  Thompson's  meeting  at  1^  P.  M.,  was  opened  with  the  precious  hymn  : 

"There  is  a  fountain  filled  with  blood,"  &c. 

Then  the  whole  company  bowed  in  silent  prayer,  during  which  the  Holy 
Spirit  was  manifestly  present.  Two  or  three  earnest  vocal  prayers  followed; 
each  one  a  fervent  supplication  for  a  present  blessing 

Bro.  Thompson  alluded  to  the  fact  that  many  were  there  for  the  first  and 
last  time,  and  asked  the  question,  "  Do  you  now  want  another  baptism  ?"  He 
said,  "  You  will  find  it  down  in  the  low  vale  of  humility.  Now  let  us  hear 
from  the  little  ones." 

Rev.  Selah  W.  Brown  said,  "  Jesus  was  giving  all  the  time,  and  yet  never 
exhausted  his  resources.  It  was  like  Rowland  Hill's  giving  a  poor  man  £200. 
He  first  sent  £5  in  a  letter  with  the  words  '  more  to  follow.'  The  man  was 
overwhelmed  with  gratitude ;  but  soon  the  mail  brought  another  letter  with 
£5  and  the  words,  '  more  to  follow.'  So  the  letters  came  for  a  long  time,  and 
it  was  ever  '  more  to  follow.'  So  Jesus  deals  with  me  ;  however  rich  my 
previous  endowments,  I  have  always  '  more  to  follow.'  " 

Dr.  Nast,  said  he  could  speak  under  the  invitation  to  the  little  ones.  He 
could  feel  very  little  when  he  contemplated  the  amazing  condescension  of 
Jesus.  He  felt  it  to  be  a  great  thing  to  get  down,  and  a  great  thing  to  keep 
down ;  and  he  meant  to  be  as  a  little  child   holding  on  to  his  Father's  hand. 

A  verse  of  "Valley  of  blessing"  was  sung.  A  sister  quoted  Lady  Maxwell 
and  Fletcher  to  the  intent  that  we  must  be  willing  to  follow  the  Lamb  whith- 
ersoever he  goeth,  not  only  on  Tabor  but  in  Gethsemanc. 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  85 

A  brother  said — "  Eleven  years  ago  I  started  from  Egypt,  and  this  very 
hour  I  have  entered  Canaan." 

A  Baptist  sister  said — "  I  know  I  am  the  least  of  all  saints,  but  Jesus 
passed  by  and  gave  me  such  a  look — 0  such  a  look  !  and  then  he  showed  me 
that  I  could  live  by  faith." 

Bro.  Boole  spoke  of  the  rain,  and  the  probability  that  the  meeting  would 
be  continued  for  some  time  ;  but  it  was  all  right,  God  means  something.  We 
are  not  yet  fully  prepared  for  the  great  battle  that  is  to  be  fought  on  this 
ground.  We  have  not  power  enough.  We  must  get  down  on  our  knees — 
on  our  faces.  Some  of  you  are  not  willing  to  do  this.  You  want  the  joy, 
but  are  not  willing  to  be  emptied.  Grod  will  not  permit  that  thing  to  be 
done.  Now  let  us  all  kneel  down  and  fully  consecrate  ourselves  to  Grod.  The 
stanza — 

"  Take  my  poor  heart  and  let  it  be 
For  ever  closed  to  all  but  thee,"  &c. 

was  sung  with  great  feeling.  "  Sing  it  again,"  said  Brother  Thompson  ;  and 
the  tide  rose  still  higher.  "  Sing  it  over,"  cried  the  leader ;  and  during  the 
third  singing  a  wave  of  divine  influence  seemed  to  roll  over  the  whole  com- 
pany. "  Hold  steady,"  cried  Brother  Boole.  "  As  many  as  believe  God  is 
willing  to  pour  out  the  Holy  Spirit  during  the  next  half  hour,  hold  up  your 
hands."  A  hundred  hands  were  raised.  From  that  moment  the  cry  for  the 
coming  Holy  Ghost  became  awfully  intense.  Many  "wept  and  made  supplica- 
tion ;"  and  in  the  midst  of  the  Jacob  like  wrestling,  waves  of  power  rolled 
over  the  place,  and  scores  of  souls  were  endowed  with  the  unction  of  the  Holy 
One;  the  whole  company  broke  out  in  the  rapturous  song — 

"  'Tis  the  very  same  power  that  they  had  at  Pentecost." 


86  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

SATURDAY  AFTERNOON,  2|  P.  M. 
SERMON  BY  REV.  ALEXANDER  McLEAN. 

^'-  Not  my  will,  hut  Thine  he  done." — Luke  22  :  42. 

I  REGARD  it  as  more  complimentary  to  the  doctrines  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
advocated  here,  than  to  any  minister,  to  see  so  many  people  waiting,  in  the  face 
of  a  threatening  storm,  to  hear  God  speak.  Let  us  pray  that  he  may  overrule  the 
circumstances  surrounding  us  for  our  good,  and  the  glory  of  his  own  great 
name. 

The  words  of  my  text  were  those  of  Jesus  the  Son  of  God,  in  that  great 
struggle  preceding  his  betrayal,  agony,  and  crucifixion. 

He  had  gone  to  an  accustomed  place  of  prayer  with  three  of  his  disciples,  on  the 
Mount  of  Olives.  When  there  he  retired  a  stone's  throw  apart  from  them,  and 
engaged  in  earnest  prayer.  Returning  he  found  them  fast  asleep.  They  may 
have  been  listening  to  his  account  of  coming  events.  Their  sjTupathy  with  him 
led  them  into  deep  sorrow,  and  like  little  children,  they  wept  themselves  to  sleep. 
Again  he  left  them  and  prayed  to  his  Father,  saying  ;  "  If  it  be  possible  let  this 
cup  depart  from  me  ;  nevertheless,  not  my  will,  but  Thine  be  done." 

I  need  not  dwell  longer  on  the  strange,  sad  fact,  or  raise  the  inquiry  as  to 
how  it  was  that  the  dear  Jesus  suffered  thus  ;.  nor  yet,  whether  the  human  or 
divine  nature  was  most  affected ;  but  rather,  let  us  turn  to  a  few  practical 
thoughts  on  the  will,  its  submission,  entire  and  complete  to  the  will  of  God,  as 
instanced  in  the  prayer  offered  by  Jesus  for  himself. 

The  will,  in  its  relations  to  the  claims  of  God  upon  us,  may  be  classified 
thus : — 

1.  The  will  when  in  opposition  to  God  :  this  is  the  sinner's  condition.  His 
own  will  is  of  the  highest  moment. 

2.  The  will  when  in  partial  submission  to  God :  this  is  the  condition  of  the 
child  of  God  while  he  is  not  entirely  sanctified. 

3.  The  will  when  brought  into  harmony  with  the  will  of  God  :  this  is  realized 
only  in  what  is  known  as  entire  sanctification,  or  Perfect  Love,  and  there 
fully. 

The  will  is  the  mightiest  power  given  to  man.  The  greatest  power  known  to 
men,  devils,  angels,  or  God,  is  in  the  will.  It  is  this  which  subordinates  and 
controls  the  other  parts  of  man's  nature.  If  you  look  out  upon  the  great  waters, 
you  may  with  a  glance  at  any  vessel,  determine  what  motive  power  was  designed 
to  propel  her.  From  the  keel  up,  everything  indicates  the  motive  power.  So 
you  may  readily  see  man  was  built  with  entire  reference  to  the  kingly  power  of 
his  will.  It  was  bestowed  on  him  that  he  might  exercise  it  as  a  free  agent,  and 
use  it  he  must  and  does,  in  one  direction  or  another.  No  one  who  hears  me 
but  will  bring  his  power  of  volition  into  play  either  for  or  against  God,  in  some 
degree  or  other,  this  very  day.  God  grant  that  it  may  be  for  Him,  and  in  the 
fullest  measure.     I  do  not  say  that  the  grace  of  God  will  not  reach  other  parts 


1 


A    MODERN   PENTECOST.  87 

of  our  nature,  but  it  will  do  this  most  effectually  through  the  sway  of  the  will. 
Nor  may  we  by  a  mere  volition  will  ourselves  into  the  prossession  of  any  grace, 
but  we  can  determine  upon  the  means  and  then  lay  hold  upon  and  steadily  employ 
them.  The  will,  under  the  Divine  assistance,  can  present  the  body  a  living 
sacrifice,  wholly  and  acceptable  unto  God,  and  then  we  can  lay  hold  of  Jesus  by 
faith  for  the  full  acceptance  of  that  gift. 

1.  The  will  in  opposition  to  God  is  the  condition  in  which  all  Christians 
acknowledge  the  sinner  is  found.  How  dreadful  the  condition.  May  God  help 
him  to  see  that  all  the  conflict  of  the  universe  has  been  a  conflict  of  will ;  that 
it  was  this  which  turned  the  angels  out  of  heaven,  and  our  first  parents  out  of 
Eden.  Sin  is  an  open,  flagrant  and  persistent  rebellion  against  God,  and  to 
Him  there  must  be  an  unconditional  surrender. 

2.  The  will  in  partial  harmony  with  God,  is  the  condition  of  the  unsanctified 
believer.  This  is  manifested  by  the  disposition  to  specify  to  God  the  manner 
in  which  he  shall  bless  us.  Tliat  the  carnal  mind  is  not  wholly  removed  from 
us  while  the  will  is  not  wholly  subdued  to  God,  may  be  known  by  an  extreme 
sensitiveness  which  is  easily  wounded.  There  may  be  a  readiness  to  criticise, 
but  a  hostility  to  being  criticised ;  a  regret  to  learn  the  success  of  a  rival,  but  a 
pleasure  to  know  the  fall  of  a  foe  ;  a  faith  in  man,  yet  doubting  God  ;  a  desire 
of  goodness,  yet  a  dread  of  its  consequence ;  a  longing  for  power,  but  a  listless- 
ness_for  purity;  committed  to  God,  yet  living  a  Kfe  of  non-committal.  The 
understanding  admits  to  the  fullest  extent  the  claims  of  God  ;  conscience  clearly 
points  the  path  to  be  pursued;  God's  word  and  Spirit  say  :  "Accept  it  ?«6>w."  To 
this  the  sinner  says  :  "  No,  not  now."  The  justified  soul  says  :  "I  will,"  and  means 
it,  but  fails  to  perform.  He  feels  that  his  every  motive  should  be  what  they 
are  not,  simply  and  singly  for  God's  glory.  He  resolves  to  have  them  so,  but 
does  not  realize  his  desire. 

Oh,  how  keenly  and  painfully  my  own  soul  has  experienced  the  variations  to 
which  I  have  alluded,  while  in  the  unsanctified  condition.  My  will  was  exerted 
to  its  uttermost  to  abide  in  Christ,  yet  without  avail.  Still  I  deemed  the  fault 
must  be  in  defective  willing,  and  would  gird  myself  for  its  stronger  exercise. 
Failure  followed  each  newly  energized  endeavor,  until  I  was  constrained  to  admit 
that  in  my  will,  or  in  that  of  the  most  pertinacious,  there  was  no  help.  Though 
I  regarded  it  as  ever  so  mean  and  unworthy  in  me  not  to  keep  upon  the  high 
plane  of  Christ-like  living,  where  I  saw  so  clearly  it  was  my  privilege  to  remain, 
yet  I  did  not  abide  there,  if  indeed  I  at  all  gained  those  blessed  heights.  I  see 
the  same  sad  history  in  your  eye.  I  hear  it  in  the  mourning  of  members  of  all 
the  denominations  who  have  not  yet  been  delivered  from  the  bondage  of  sin.  I 
read  the  sad  strains  of  this  experience  in  the  hymns  of  the  churches,  and  it  is 
everywhere  manifest  that  when  we  would  do  good,  evil  is  present  with  us.  The 
minister,  class-leader,  deacon,  or  elder,  seeing  the  young  convert  running  on  in 
his  early  zeal,  admonishes  him  to  carefulness,  and  seeks  to  prepare  his  mind  for 
great  revulsions — as  though  there  was  no  gospel  plan  for  the  entire  removal  of 
the  cause  of  such  revulsions. 

Yes,  there  is  a  plane  of  experience,  where  these  perturbations  are  less  frequent, 
and  where,  indeed,  they  do  not  exist.  Luke  tells  us  that  while  Christ  was  in 
the  agony  of  the  garden,  "  There  appeared  an  angel  unto  him  from  heaven, 
strengthening  him."     So  our  will  must  be  stengthened  from  on  high. 

What  may  have  been  impossible  by  our  own  will,  becomes  feasible  when 
assisted  of  God.     Just  here  men  stagger.     They  see  the  greatness  of  the  work 


88  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

to  be  done,  but,  realizing  their  own  feebleness,  they  falter,  as  well  they  might. 
Yet,  when  God  enters  and  re-info rces  the  will,  and  energizes  the  whole  soul,  how 
changed  everything  becomes.  God's  doing,  and  our  doing  are  infinitely  far 
apart.  It  is  God  who  promises,  "Then  will  I  sprinkle  clean  water  upon  you, 
and  ye  shall  be  clean  ;  from  all  your  filthiness,  and  from  all  your  idols  will  I 
cleanse  you."  What  signifies  our  inability,  when  God  declares  that  he  "  will" 
do  it  for  us  and  in  us  ? 

Self-crucifixion  must  precede  the  realization  of  the  fullest  harmony  between 
the  divine  and  the  human  will.  Cost  what  it  may,  self  must  go  down,  all 
the  way  down,  in  every  regard  where  the  soul  claims  a  separate  interest  from 
Christ.  One  wish,  one  will,  one  way,  with  Jesus  in  the  lead,  must  be  the 
soul's  unvarying  aspiration.  John  was  so  far  from  having  a  distaste  for  the 
fact,  that  his  whole  soul  was  thrilled  with  joy,  when  he  said  of  Jesus,  "  He 
must  increase,  but  I  must  decrease."  Consent,  dear  hearer,  to  die  to  self 
Be  not  satisfi.ed  with  a  temporary  submission.  If  you  would  have  a  thorough 
work  wrought,  go  down,  down  into  the  depths  of  self-abnegation.  As  an  old 
sea  captain  was  exhibiting  a  harpoon  several  feet  in  length  and  of  consider- 
able weight,  he  said,  "  We  do  not  kill  the  whale  with  this ;  you  might  load 
the  whale  down  with  harpoons,  and  not  kill  him.  We  fasten  to  the  whale 
with  this,  and  when  he  is  well  wearied  with  drawing  us  through  the  water, 
and  comes  up  to  breathe,  we  row  close  to  him,  and  a  strong  and  expert  man 
in  the  bow  throws  a  sharp  lance,  smaller  than  the  harpoon,  with  all  his  force 
right  to  the  spot  where  he  lives.  This  is  the  way  in  which  the  whale  is 
killed."  Self  will  endure  a  great  deal  of  harrowing  and  harpooning,  but  by 
an  unreserved  consecration,  and  faith  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  let  us  strike 
it  where  it  lives.  Your  will,  you  will  find,  is  the  vital  point ;  that  being  in 
entire  submission  to  God's  will,  you  shall  find  rest  to  your  soul. 

"R&new  roy  will  from  day  to  day, 
Blend  it  with  Thine,  and  take  away 
All  that  now  makes  it  hard  to  say, 
'Thy  will  be  done.'" 

A  great  change  in  your  affections  and  desires  will  take  place  upon  the  death 
of  self.  Why  should  a  woman,  dead  to  sin  and  self,  bedeck  herself  as  though 
she  were  alive  to  human  admiration  ?  Do  ear-rings,  and  a  display  of  jewelry 
generally,  well  become  the  dead  ?  Shall  a  dead  woman  so  attest  her  enslave- 
ment to  fashion  as  to  still  wear  her  golden  manacles?  I  cannot  understand 
how  self  can  be  fully  crucified,  while  as  yet  we  are  so  very  sensitive  to  either 
the  praise  or  censure  of  men ;  or,  if  we  are  seeking  the  honor  which  comes 
from  men,  rather  than  the  honor  which  comes  from  God  only.  If  our  feel- 
ings are  wounded  so  easily  by  some  reflection,  remark,  or  supposed  slight, 
does  it  not  indicate  the  presence  of  the  self-life?  The  foot-ball,  though 
thrown  rapidly  in  one  direction,  is  uninjured,  and  ready  at  once  for  another 
thrust.  Much  of  our  discomfort,  and  annoyance  grows  out  of  our  sensitive- 
ness, lie  adamant  to  error  and  injustice,  but  clay  on  the  potter's  wheel  to 
truth  and  righteousness. 

What  rcstfuliiess  and  soul-comfort  results  from  having  our  will  in  fullest 
harmony  with  the  will  of  God.     'Tis  yours,  then,  to  say  : 

"  Now  rest,  my  long  divided  heart ; 
Fix'd  on  this  blissful  centre-rest ; 
Nor  ever  from  thy  Lord  depart ; 
With  him  of  every  good  possessed." 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST. 


If  now  you  are  not  in  the  enjoyment  of  this  grace,  resolve  to  have  it.  As 
it  is  purchased  for  you,  reach  forth  the  hand  of  faith,  and  take  it  as  all  your 
own.  To-day  let  this  blessed  consummation  be  realized,  and  then  go  forward, 
doing  everything  in  your  power  to  lead  others  to  the  cross. 


As  the  preacher  intimated  on  commencing  his  sermon,  a  storm  was  gather- 
ing fast,  and  an  admonitory  dash  of  rain  at  intervals  came  on  the  people  ;  but 
with  rapid  utterance,  lively  illustration,  and  pointed  anecdotes,  he  held  the 
attention  until  he  deemed  it  prudent  to  close.  The  afternoon  trains  coming 
in,  filled  the  avenues  with  new  arrivals,  and  nothing  bat  an  all-controlling 
energy,  aided  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  could  have  prevented  general  confusion  at 
the  time.  Our  notes  of  the  discourse  were  frequently  interrupted  as  we  sat 
in  our  tent  door  by  the  inquiries  of  strangers,  who  were  looking  for  lodging, 
or  the  localities  where  their  friends  might  be  found.  This  is  our  apology  for 
not  having  a  more  full  and  complete  report. 

Driven  at  length  from  the  open  air  by  the  not  unwelcome  shower,  the 
Landisville  Tabernacle  sheltered  a  large  number  who  resumed  the  lively  exer- 
cises which  had  been  suspended  for  preaching.  From  testimonies  given  it 
became  evident  that  with  a  large  majority  of  professors,  the  subjection  of  the 
will  was  the  sore  point  in  their  unsatisfactory  past  career.  Such  a  sermon, 
therefore,  was  very  opportune  ;  squarely  up  to  the  alternative  were  these 
vacillating  minds  brought — God's  will  or  mine.  If  I  can  ever  truly  say  or 
sing : 

"  Now  rest  my  long  divided  heart,"  &c., 

it  must  be  by  yielding  every  point,  and  letting  every  barrier  be  swept  away 
by  the  Divine  Spirit.  Am  I  all  the  Lord's  ?  Can  I  close  my  eyes  to  all  pos- 
sible contingencies  of  the  future,  and  at  the  foot  of  the  cross  give  up  forever 
my  own  will,  preference,  and  choice,  saying,  "  Thy  will  be  done  !"  As  one 
after  another  made  the  surrender,  saying,  "  I  am  the  Lord's  !"  bursts  of  con- 
gratulation in  holy  song  rang  out,  and  the  kindling  fire  extended  through  the 
increasing  storm. 

KEMARKABLE  EXPERIENCE. 

A  meeting  was  held  at  an  earlier  hour  of  the  afternoon  in  the  grove  at 
the  head  of  the  grounds,  which  claims  some  notice  in  the  proceedings  of 
the  day. 

All  available  places  for  holding  religious  services  were  occupied  and 
crowded. 

Rev.  John  Thompson,  Rev.  J.  W.  White,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Milroy,  Pa.,  Rev.  Joseph  Barker,  Mrs.  Amanda  Smith  and  a  large 
company,  engaged  in  prayer.  Brother  White  leading,  and  the  great  burden  of 
every  soul  seemed  to  be,  "  Nearer,  my  God  to  thee." 


90  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

Scripture  passages  were  called  for,  and  quoted  promiscuously,  and  with 
powerful  effect.  References  were  made  to  the  preaching  of  the  Word,  and 
the  impressions  made  thereby,  through  the  Holy  Spirit,  on  individual  minds. 

Sister  Smith  being  urged  to  take  part  in  the  meeting,  remarked,  "  I  want 
to  sing,  not  for  the  sake  of  singing ;  I  want  to  sing  for  some  present  good. 
I  want  to  help  somebody.  It  is  faith  that  brings  the  blessing,  and  I  like 
this  verse — 

"If  He  the  witness  gives 
To  loj'al  hearts  and  free, 
And  every  promise  is  fulfilled, 
'Tis  faith  that  brings  the  plea." 

"Now,  if  I  can  glorify  God,  I  will  speak  a  little.  There  is  one  text; 
I  never  can  understand  the  whole  of  it — '  Unto  me  who  am  less  than 
the  least  of  all  saints,  is  this  grace  given,  that  I  should  preach  among  the 
gentiles,  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ.'  I  am  glad  the  word  'gentiles' 
is  there.  I  used  to  be  afraid  of  white  people.  It  will  be  difficult  for  me  to 
tell  my  experience,  for  when  I  begin  to  speak  it  rushes  in  on  me  so  mightily. 
In  1856  I  was  gloriously  justified.  I  speak  of  this  because  some  people  can 
never  tell  when  they  are  justified,  and  many  try  to  leap  over  it  when  they 
have  not  a  clear  evidence  of  their  acceptance  with  Grod.  I  had  a  hard  strug- 
gle. I  sought  the  Lord  for  six  weeks,  and  the  enemy  said :  '  God  does  his 
work  quick;  now  you  have  been  so  long  seeking,  you  will  never  be  saved,  for 
God  will  not  pay  any  attention  to  you ;  it  is  no  use  to  try. 

"  I  said  I  would  pray  just  once  more.  This  was  the  good  Spirit  prompting; 
but  Satan  said  : 

"  *  No;  it  is  no  use.' 

"  I  will !" 

"  '  It  is  no  use.' 

"  I'll  have  religion  or  die,  this  afternoon.  I  went  down  into  the  cellar  and 
said  :  Lord,  I  have  come  down  here  and  want  to  be  converted. 

"The  Devil  suggested,  'You  have  said  all  that  before,  and  the  Lord  did  not 
notice  you.' 

"  I  came  down  here.  Lord,  to  be  converted,  and  I  will  never  give  it  up. 

"  Then  there  came  on  me  a  mighty  baptism,  and  I  said,  '  Lord,  I  do  be- 
lieve !'  This  is  it !  Down  came  the  baptism  again.  So  I  learned  that,  as  I 
confessed  with  the  mouth,  and  believed  with  the  heart,  I  was  saved. 

"  When  I  came  out  of  the  cellar  I  looked  at  myself,  and  I  was  astonished. 
I  said  :  '  I  have  got  all  this  by  believing.  I  have  all  the  creation  in  me,  and 
the  new  creation,  at  that.'  Now  I  wanted  to  live  a  new  life,  to  be  a  real  Chris- 
tian. I  truly  enjoyed  religion.  I  never  heard  of  sanctification.  It  is  glo- 
rious that  we  can  have  the  witness  of  justification,  and  I  thank  God  I  have 
the  witness  of  entire  sanctification.     I  know  that  I  was  entirely  sanctified. 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  91 

"I  did  not  know  that  anybody  was  ever  ashamed  of  calling  this  blessing  by 
its  proper  name.  I  sought  it  definitely,  yet  I  hardly  knew  what  I  was  seek- 
ing. I  went  to  Green  Street  Church,  N.  Y.,  while  Mr.  Inskip  w^s  preaching 
there  one  day,  and  as  T  listened,  I  thought  some  one  had  been  telling  him  of 
me.  He  said  :  '  Some  people  want  sanctification,  but  they  are  troubled  how 
they  shall  live  it,  after  they  have  it.' 

"I  said  :  That  is  like  me;  I  have  thought  just  so  ;  some  one  has  been  tell- 
ing him  of  me. 

"  I  listened,  and  Brother  Inskip  continued  : 

"  You  do  not  fix  up  any  way  to  breathe  when  you  lie  down  to  sleep ;  you 
just  lie  down,  and  you  breathe  right  on.  So  you  need  not  fix  up  any  way  for 
God  to  live  in  you — ^just  let  God  come  in  and  he  will  live  himself.' 

"  I  said  :    0  blessed  God,  I  believe  that  is  just  so.     Then  he  said  : 

"  How  long  does  it  take  to  light  up  a  dark  room  when  you  take  a  lighted 
taper  into  it  ?'  I  said  :  '  Why  that  is  all  right.  I  can  see  that.  Can  God 
give  me  light  in  that  way  ?'  and  I  was  blessed  already.  Then  he  asked,  '  If 
God  can  change  our  vile  bodies  and  make  them  like  unto  his  glorious  body 
in  one  moment,  then  can  he  save  your  soul  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye.' 

"I  believed  this,  and  immediately  the  Holy  Spirit  filled  my  soul,  so  that  I 
lost  my  fear  of  white  folks,  and  I  shouted.  Glory  to  God  !  As  I  shouted,  my 
soul  filled  up  again,  and  I  was  greatly  blessed. 

"  I  used  to  wish  God  had  not  made  me  black,  and  think — if  he  had  only 
made  me  white;  but  this  pride  and  prejudice  was  now  taken  away,  and  I  was 
glad  that  God  made  me  as  I  was.  This  utmost  salvation  goes  to  the  very 
bottom,  and  covers  all  cases  and  all  circumstances. 

"I  was  justified  by  faith,  but  I  thought  I  must  fix  myself  to  get  this  sancti- 
fication ;  so  I  began  to  fix  up  on  this  side,  and  then  it  would  get  all  out  of  fix 
on  the  other  side.  Now  I  found  that  I  must  have  this  blessing  by  faith,  and 
so  I  plunged  in,  and  I  was  saved.  When  I  shouted.  Glory  to  God !  I  was 
baptized  again,  and  God  revealed  Jesus  to  me — my  Jesus  !  and  he  took  all 
the  prejudice  out  of  me,  and  I  do  love  white  folks,  whether  they  love  me  or 
not,  and  I  want  them  all  saved." 

At  this  point,  Rev.  Joseph  Barker  rising  to  speak,  was  introduced  as  the 
man  who,  until  a  few  years  ago  was  a  champion  of  infidelity  and  challenged 
every  minister  in  Philadelphia  to  debate  the  existence  of  God,  and  the  truth 
of  the  Bible  ;  and  who  held  a  great  discussion  with  one  distinguished  divine. 
He  said  :  "  I  was  indeed  an  unbeliever  ;  a  desperate  case.  I  fought  hard, 
but  I  am  here  to-day  to  say  that  I  believe  in  God  the  Father,  and  in  Jesus 
Christ.  However  strong  the  things  that  I  said  before  I  was  converted,  they 
were  all  vanity  and  lies.  I  am  happy  in  God,  and  he  saves  me.  I  cannot 
give  you  the  substance  of  my  experience,  but  I  will  say  I  have   passed  from 


92  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL    CAMP-MEETING. 

death  unto  life;  from  the  power  of  Satan  unto  God.  Jesus  is  everywhere 
with  me.  I  have  not  to  turn  aside  to  find  Jesus.  When  I  am  in  the  cars,  I 
have  only  to  turn  my  head  aside,  and  I  am  alone  with  God.  I  cannot  tell 
when  I  was  justified  or  sanctified,  but  I  know  that  I  am  fully  saved.  I  love 
God  with  all  my  heart,  and  my  neighbor  as  myself  I  have  said  many  hard 
things  against  the  Bible  and  against  God  ;  but  I  began  to  examine  everything 
in  the  Gospel  that  was  lovely  or  beautiful,  and  I  found  much  more  than  I 
expected.  I  went  through  the  Old  Testament,  and  then  I  got  into  the  New, 
and  that  revealed  Jesus  to  me,  and  the  sight  of  Jesus  killed  the  devil  in  me. 
I  saw  how  he  was  led  as  a  lamb  to  the  slaughter,  and  as  a  sheep  before  her 
shearers  is  dumb,  so  he  opened  not  his  mouth.  I  saw  them  nail  him  to  the 
cross  on  Calvary  ;  he  drew  me  to  himself  He  got  hold  of  me  and  I  got  hold 
of  him,  and  we  have  grappled  and  held  each  other  fast  ever  since.  I  have 
got  salvation  and  I  know  it. 

"  Infidelity  is  an  awful  calamity  and  a  terrible  evil  of  head  and  heart.  There 
is  one  thing  that  is  worse  than  infidelity,  and  that  is  lukewarmness.  God 
will  take  pains  to  draw  an  infidel  to  himself,  but  he  will  spew  the  lukewarm 
out  of  his  mouth." 


BUSINESS  MEN'S  MEETING. 

It  is  a  pleasing  feature  in  connection  with  the  National  Association  for  the 
Promotion  of  Holiness,  that  all  time  and  resources  are  utilized,  and,  so  far  as 
possible,  all  phases  of  human  calling  are  represented  in  religious  service. 

While  the  world  at  large  is  finding  fault  with  Christian  men,  whose  business 
brings  them  directly  in  contact  with  non- Christian  professors,  it  is  a  matter  of 
thanksgiving  that  our  laymen  are  more  and  more  clearly  apprehending  the 
responsibility  of  their  position.  We  venture  the  prediction  that  the  time  is  not 
far  distant  when  every  large  community,  at  least,  will  have  organized  in  its 
midst  a  regular  Business  Men's  Meeting  for  the  purpose  of  encouraging  each 
other  in  their  trust  in  God,  and  dependence  on  Him  for  the  safe  conduct  of  their 
business.     The  initial  step  is  already  taken,  through  the  National^  Association. 

It  was  at  Urbana,  in  1871,  as  we  well  remember,  this  idea  took  shape.  A 
New  York  merchant,  Mr.  L.  A.  Battershall,  was  in  attendance  at  the  meeting, 
and  after  carefully  noticing  the  various  appliances  which  had  been  brought  into 
requisition,  such  as  special  services  for  children,  meetings  for  young  people,  for 
ladies  exclusively,  and  for  pastors,  and  the  wives  of  ministers — conceived  the 
thought  that  a  meeting  for  conference,  prayer  and  experience  by  men  engaged 
in  active  business  pursuits,  would  prove  helpful  to  themselves  and  largely 
promote  the  welfare  of  the  general  Church.  He  made  a  beginning,  and  the 
immediate  result  justified  his  faith.     One  year  had  not  rolled  round  before  such 


A    MODERN   PENTECOST.  93 

men  as  Wm.  C.  DePauw,  of  Indiana,  Levi  Perry,  of  Baltmore,  G.  M.  Brubaker, 
of  Millersburg,  Pa.,  and  others  long  and  well-know  in  the  commercial  world, 
East  and  West,  were  in  active  personal  sympathy  with  this  specific  feature  of 
the  "  higher  life" — the  obligations  of  Christian  merchants  to  consecrate  them- 
selves, their  faculties  for  trade,  and  their  gains,  to  the  service  of  God,  and  for 
the  advancement  of  the  Redeemer's  cause. 

At  Urbana  and  Sea  Cliff  Grove,  in  1872,  this  element  of  the  meetings 
became  one  of  the  most  notable  and  powerful  means  of  success.  At  Knoxville, 
Tenn.,  later  in  the  season,  Wra.  T  Perkins,  of  Cincinnati,  with  Bro.  Omer  Toucey 
and  Col.  Robertson,  of  Indianapolis,  led  in  the  movement. 

A  convention  was  called,  and  successfully  held  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  still  later 
at  the  suggestion  of  Wan-en  Atwood,  Esq.,  and  conducted  by  Dr.  I.  M.  Ward. 

Thus,  from  what  seemed  to  many  but  a  mere  momentary  impulse,  has  grown 
up  a  movement,  the  fruits  of  which  are  already  ripening  in  enlarged  offerings 
for  purposes  of  Church  Extension  and  the  Missionary  Cause,  and  which  is 
destined  to  bless  in  double  measure  those  to  whom  God  is  pleased  to  lend  a 
liberal  share  of  the  blessings  of  his  providence. 

At  Landisville  the  first  meeting  was  held  on  Friday,  the  25th  of  July.  There 
were  but  few  in  attendance,  and  it  was  not  of  long  duration. 

The  lively  exercises  in  the  Board  Tent,  and  an  absorbing  interest  in  the 
National  Tabernacle,  where  the  preachers  were  holding  a  conference  on  their 
knees,  attracted  most  of  the  floating  population  of  the  encampment.  Great 
principles,  however,  were  stated  by  brethren  who  spoke.  They  showed  that  no 
business  was  legitimate  for  man  that  did  not  admit  of  his  taking  in  God  as  a 
principal  partner.  Every  enterprise  should  be  so  pure  and  clean  that  it  could 
bear  to  have  the  name  of  "  Jesus  &  Co."  at  its  head  and  front.  Then,  in  both 
its  management  and  results,  He  must  be  consulted,  and  have  His  pro-rata  of  the 
increase.  Avarice  was  a  soul-destroying  vice.  The  love  of  money,  as  instanced 
in  hoarding  it,  was  so  directly  against  the  spirit  of  real  Christianity,  and  so 
subversive  of  charity,  that  it  must  be  supplanted  by  the  higher  love  of  doing 
good.  Christian  men  should  not  be  idle.  Every  resource  of  mind  and  body 
might  be  put  under  tribute ;  but  all  for  Christ.  With  Christ,  the  hum  of  trade, 
the  rush  of  machinery,  the  ring  of  the  anvil,  and  the  circumstances  of  home, 
were  all  helpful  to  a  holy  life,  and  that  is  the  true  spring  from  which  flows  a 
happy  and  useful  life. 

On  the  next  evening  the  business  men  and  preachers  had  a  joint  meeting 
in  the  Tabernacle.     It  was  opened  by  singing : 

"  My  gracious  Master,  and  my  God, 
Assist  me  to  proclaim  : 
To  spread  thro'  all  the  earth  abroad 
The  honors  of  thy  name." 


94  SIXTEENTH   NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

The  leader  said — "  This  meeting  is  for  practical  purposes — to  show  the 
bearings  of  religion  on  business  and  every  day  life.  I  went  to  one  of  the 
National  Camp-meetiogs  a  moral  bankrupt.  The  latter  part  of  the  meeting 
God  gave  me  a  new  baptism,  and  I  consecrated  to  him  all  my  redeemed  ener- 
gies. Since  then  I  have  lived  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  blessing.  It  has  been 
to  me  songs  in  the  night.  It  has  made  my  home  a  paradise.  Jesus  sits  with 
us  at  our  table,  and  is  with  us  in  our  going  out  and  our  coming  it.  This  sal- 
vation has  helped  financially,  and  enabled  me  to  give  of  my  substance  wil- 
lingly to  God  and  his  cause.  It  has  wonderfully  saved  me  from  evil  habits. 
It  had  become  a  passion  of  my  life  to  smoke,  and  I  could  hardly  do  anything 
without  a  cigar  in  my  mouth.  As  I  sat  on  my  neighbor's  step  with  a  cigar 
in  my  mouth,  God  spoke  to  me  saying,  '  Know  ye  not  that  ye  are  the  temple 
of  the  the  living  God,  and  God  liveth  in  you  ?  He  that  defileth  the  temple 
of  God,  him  will  God  destroy.'  I  declared  to  my  neighbor  I  would  touch  it 
no  more." 

"  'I  will  give  you  a  month,'  said  he. 

"  I  committed  my  case  to  God,  and  he  has  so  fully  saved  me,  that  I  no 
more  think  of  smoking  than  I  do  of  eating  dirt,  and  I  give  all  the  glory  to 
God.  I  expected  to  be  so  nervous  that  my  body  would  tremble  ;  but  I  have 
not  had  a  twinge  of  nervousness,  nor  lost  a  moment's  sleep." 

Brother  Larkin  said — "  I  hardly  know  when  I  began  to  be  a  Christian.  I 
want  to  tell  you  how  I  got  this  fullness.  I  am  a  Hebrew  of  the  Hebrews. 
I  was  early  convicted  and  forgiven.  I  made  blunders  and  sinned,  and  the 
Spirit  would  reprove,  and  I  repented,  and  God  forgave  me.  When  our 
people  went  to  Urbana  National  Camp-meeting,  they  came  home  and  told 
us  about  this  full  salvation.  I  got  up  at  once  and  confessed  my  faith  in  it. 
Satan  said  :  '  How  do  you  know  that  you  have  given  all  to  God  ?'  I  said  : 
If  I  have  not,  I  will  as  soon  as  I  come  to  it.  I  was  given  wholly  to  God.  I 
am  set  on  wires,  and  have  an  awfully  nervous  system.  If  you  want  to  find 
out  what  are  trials,  just  stand  behind  my  counter.  But  this  grace  saves  me 
right  through.  I  thought  I  had  something  of  this  world's  good  ;  but  since 
I  began  to  give,  God  has  given  me  so  much  more  that  I  am  astonished.  Yet 
I  mean  to  keep  fully  up  to  my  responsibilities,  and  pour  it  out  as  God  pours  in." 

A  business  man  from  Williamantic,  Ct.,  said — "I  have  known  what  it 
was  to  trust  God  in  part,  and  I  know  what  it  is  to  trust  him  wholly  in  my 
business.  I  have  been  shut  up  in  all  my  plans.  I  went  home  and  told  my 
wife  about  it,  and  then  I  went  and  told  God.  I  trusted  tlim  and  he  gave  me 
a  new  business  that  I  thought,  at  first,  I  was  not  fit  for;  but  he  showed  me 
that  I  was.  I  took  down  my  old  account  book  and  wrote  a  vow  in  it,  and 
gave  all  for  God,  and  signed  my  name  to  it.  I  called  my  wife  to  look  at  it, 
and  told  her  that  was  the  way  we  must  go  the  rest  of  our  lives ;  and  God  has 
prospered  me  ever  since." 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  95 

Brother  Baldwin,  of  Louisiana,  who  has  given  so  many  thousands  of  dollars 
for  education  and  the  freedmen,  said  :  "  I  embraced  entire  sanctification  in 
1818.  I  have  had  no  property  of  my  own  ever  since.  I  am  only  a  steward. 
I  have  never  taken  back  that  consecration.  I  have  never  been  able  to  get 
any  useless  piece  of  furniture  for  my  house,  or  extravagant  clothing  for  my 
body.  I  have  a  pair  of  shoes  that  I  have  worn  for  three  years,  and  I  expect 
to  wear  them  one  year  more;  and  they  only  cost  $1.50.  I  felt  that  I  ought 
to  do  something  for  the  freedmen,  and  I  told  the  Lord  if  he  would  give  me 
twenty  thousand  dollars,  I  would  go  down  South  and  buy  a  plantation,  and 
build  a  school  for  the  colored  people.  In  less  than  ten  days  I  had  the  money 
in  my  hands.  I  went  down  South.  I  bought  the  plantation.  We  have  a 
school,  and  some  of  the  scholars  have  already  gone  out  to  preach.  The  Lord 
has  gathered  about  six  hundred.  I  told  Bishop  Wiley  that  I  thought  we 
should  make  quite  an  impression  upon  the  people  in  the  course  of  twenty 
years,  and  perhaps  before.  We  have  a  steam  saw-mill,  and  I  am  going  to  carry 
down  a  planing  machine.  I  think  I  have  just  as  good  a  right  to  be  fully  saved 
as  anybody.  We  enjoy  our  work  finely.  It  is  good  for  us  to  be  in  the  way 
of  duty." 

Brother  Pfafi",  of  Cincinnati — "  I  said  a  few  things  in  the  business  meet- 
ing yesterday,  and  my  brethren  said  I  must  tell  my  experience  here.  I  have 
always  tried  to  find  out  my  duty  since  I  was  in  the  Church.  In  giving  away 
money,  my  policy  was  to  sow  beside  all  waters.  If  I  had  given  all  to  one 
institution,  then  it  might  have  failed,  and  I  should  have  lost  the  whole.  But 
I  give  to  all  causes. 

"  When  a  boy  I  was  poor  ;  yet  I  supported  my  mother  at  the  age  of  ten  years. 
I  made  up  my  mind  that  I  would  have  money  of  my  own  or  I  would  die ;  that 
I  would  have  enough  to  save  me  from  dependence  upon  others.  God  blessed 
me,  so  I  had  money  enough  before  I  was  converted.  The  day  I  was  thirty- 
eight  years  of  age  I  and  my  wife  were  converted.  If  I  had  not  been  in  the 
Church  I  should  have  been  in  my  grave.  I  made  up  my  mind  to  do  my  every 
duty.  I  asked  one  of  the  brethren  what  I  ought  to  give.  I  soon  found  out 
that  they  made  small  calculations  in  religious  matters  as  to  money.  I  knew  my 
temptation,  and  I  made  up  my  mind  to  make  a  bee-line  for  heaven.  From  my 
youth  I  thought  that  all  IMethodists  were  in  the  way  of  holiness  ;  but  was 
surprised  to  find  it  was  not  so.  I  met  a  brother  on  the  camp-ground  and  asked 
him  how  much  he  had  given  to  a  certain  cause.  He  said  he  gave  twenty-four 
hundred  dollars  in  twenty  four  years.  I  told  him  I  would  give  twenty-five 
hundred  dollars  to  begin  with.  My  brethren  told  me  that  I  was  beside  myself 
in  relation  to  giving  money ;  that  I  should  learn  better  as  I  grew  older.  I 
believe  we  shall  be  rewarded  according  to  our  deeds  and  the  love  that  prompts. 
When  I  see  a  rich  man  giving  half  a  dollar  and  calling  it  the  widow's  mite,  I 


96  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL    CAMP-MEETING. 

think  wliat  a  shame!  God  can  measure  our  love;  we  have  no  scales  that  can 
weigh  love.  God  rewards  like  a  God.  The  blood  of  Christ  alone  can  prepare 
us  for  heaven;  but  we  are  rewarded  according  to  our  works." 

Thus  the  speaking  proceeded.  The  theme  was  new  to  many  who  never  in 
their  experience  had  allowed  themselves  to  believe  and  act  as  responsible  stewards 
of  the  manifold  gifts  of  God.  We  give  but  a  specimen  of  the  exercises  held 
from  day  to  day,  with  increasing  interest. 


SERMON  BY  REV.  J.  B.  FOOTE,  SYRACUSE,  NEW   YORK. 

SATURDAY  EVENING  IN  THE  TABERNACLE,  DURING  THE  PROGRESS  OP 
A  HEAVY  RAIN. 

What  fellowship  hath  righteousness  with  unrighteousness?  and  what  com- 
munion hath  light  with  darkness  ? 

And  what  concord  hath  Christ  with  Beliel?  or  ichat  part  hath  he  that  hc- 
lieveth  with  an  infidel? 

And  what  agreimvit  hath  the  temple  of  God  with  idols  ?  /or  i/e  are  the 
temple  of  the  living  God;  as  God  hath  said,  I  will  dwell  in  them,  and  walk 
in  them;  and  I  will  he  their  God,  and  they  shall  be  my  people. 

Wherefore  come  out  from  among  them,  and  he  ye  separate,  saith  the  Lord, 
and  touch  not  the  unclean  thing;  and  I  will  receive  you, 

And  will  he  a  Father  unto  you,  and  ye  shall  he  my  sons  and  daughters, 
saith  the  Lord  Almighty. — 2  Cor.  6:  14-18. 

Having,  therefore,  these  promises,  dearly  hcloved,  let  us  cleanse  ourselves 
from  all  filthiness  of  the  flesh  and  spirit,  perfecting  holiness  in  the  fear  of  the 
Lord.— 2  Cor.  7:1. 

There  arc  three  religious  terms  in  the  Bible  to  which  many  persons  in  our 
churches  have  a  remarkable  and  unwarrantable  aversion.  From  the  word 
holiness  they  feel  a  strange  and  sensitive  shrinking  ;  some  ftiirly  hate  the  word 
sanctification,  and  the  word  perfection  is  a  stumbling-stone  and  rock  of  offence. 
But  these  are  the  Bible  terms,  and  occur  in  some  of  their  forms,  not  incidentally 
or  seldom,  but  often,  and  as  the  most  important  word  in  the  sentence.  The  hist 
mentioned  is  found  nearly  one  hundred  and  twenty  times ;  the  word  sanctify, 
over  a  hundred  and  twenty,  and  the  term  holy,  over  seven  hundred.  And  in 
most  instances  these  words  are  applied  to  human  character.  This  word  "  cleanse" 
in  our  text,  is  used  in  some  of  its  forms  in  a  religious  sense  some  eighty  times. 
"  Create  in  me  a  clean  heart."  "  From  all  your  filthiness  and  from  all  your 
idols  will  I  cleanse  you."     "  The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  his  Sou  cleanscth  us 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  97 

from  all  sin."  "  He  is  faithful  and  just  to  forgiye  us  our  sins  and  to  cleanse 
us  from  all  unrigliteousness."  "  Let  us  cleanse  ourselves  from  all  filthiness  of 
flesh  and  spirit,  perfecting  holiness  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord." 

The  Bible,  then,  is  full  of  this  subject  of  entire  cleansing.  And  it  is  a  strik- 
ing fact  that  frequently  a  word  is  added  or  prefixed,  expressing  the  idea  of 
entireness,  or  the  language  is  so  constructed  that  the  intention  to  inculcate  the 
idea  of  full,  entire,  complete  sanctification  is  manifiest,  e.  g.  "  Sanctify  you 
wholly,'^  "  that  ye  may  be  perfect  and  entire,  wanting  nothing."  "There  is  no 
fear  in  love^  hut  j)erfect  love  casteth  out  fear."  In  1  Cor.  13th,  the  word 
charity  is  used  alone — but  perfect  love  is  manifestly  intended. 

I  am  correct,  then,  in  saying  the  Uible  is  full  of  the  subject  of  entire  cleansing, 
and  in  reference  to  it  I  purpose  to  present  a  few  propositions  deducible  from 
our  text.  And  0  that  the  Holy  Ghost  may  use  his  own  truth  here  and  now 
for  the  full  salvation  of  some  who  listen.  And  I  grow  more  and  more  encouraged 
to  look  for  immediate  results.  Two  or  three  weeks  ago  Bishop  Peck  made  a 
formal  address  at  our  Syracuse  Tuesday  Meeting.  He  spoke  of  the  experience 
and  its  propagation.  After  remarking  upon  the  duty  of  preaching  the  doctrine 
whether  the  experience  is  enjoyed  or  not,  as  the  Bible  is  the  standard,  and  not 
our  experience,  he  said  he  rejoiced  in  the  increase  of  the  experience,  and  believed 
the  day  is  already  dawning  when  our  ministry  will  so  understand  and  enjoy  it 
that  they  will  be  able  to  so  present  it  that  our  people  will  enter  into  it  while  it 
is  being  presented. 

The  day  has  dawned,  thank  God  ;  and  I  verily  believe  that  now,  while  the 
rain  is  falling  in  such  torrents  on  this  canvas,  God  will  sprinkle  some  hearts  here 
with  clean  water,  and  they  shall  be  made  clean. 

I. —  This  Bible  suggestion  of  entire  cleansing  is  made  to  ^jersons  already 
converted.  I  think  this  is  always  the  case,  at  least  I  do  not  call  to  mind  any 
exception.  There  may  be,  but  1  think  whenever  the  suggestion  is  made  it  will 
appear  either  in  some  expressed  term  in  the  passage  or  by  f;iir  implication  that 
the  suggestion  belongs  to  those  who  are  reckoned  as  the  people  of  God.  The  text 
is  addressed  to  those  "  dearly  beloved."  The  beginning  of  this  paragraph  speaks 
of  "ye"  and  "unbelievers" — two  classes,  unbelievers  spoken  of  and  believers, 
addressed.  And  is  it  not  the  case  that  all  of  the  Epistles  are  addressed  to  the 
Church  of  God,  "  to  the  saints  and  faithful  brethren."  and  not  one  of  them  to 
the  general  mass  of  unconverted  persons  ?  The  apostle  explains  this.  He  de- 
clares plainly  that  the  ministry  is  instituted  for  "  the  perfecting  of  the  saints," 
"  till  we  all  come  in  the  unity  of  the  faith  and  of  the  knowledge  of  the  Son  of 
God  unto  a  perfect  man,  unto  the  measure  of  the  stature  of  the  fullness  of 
Christ."  God's  plan  is.  first,  for  everybody  to  be  converted,  and  secondly  in 
childhood,  and  at  home,  through  the  prayers  and  faith  of  Christian  parents  ; 
and  tlien  the  Church  organization  and  the  institution  of  the  ministry  are  to  take 
these  young  converts  and  lead  them  on  to  perfection.  And  here  is  another  re- 
markable quotation.  "All  Scripture  is  given  by  inspiration  of  God,  and  isprof- 
fitablefor  doctrine,  etc.,  that  the  man  of  God  may  be  perfect,  thoroughly  fur- 
nished unto  all  good  works." 

Hence  the  propriety  of  special  efforts  to  promote  holiness.     In  fact  every 

meeting  in  the  church  ought  to  promote  holiaess;  but  as  the  insiduous  spirit 

of  the  world  keeps  this  object  out  so  largely  from  our  regular  meetings,  the 

providence  of  God  has  started  these  National  Camp-meetings  and  other  meet- 

7 


98  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

ings  for  this  special  object.  Bishop  Haven,  in  his  introduction  to  Brother 
Hughes'  book, "  Days  of  Power/'  puts  it  in  this  wise  : 

"The  gatherings  which  this  book  commemmorate  have  a  churchly  specialty. 
They  are  designed  to  summon  the  Church  herself  to  a  re-cousecratiou.  They 
say  to  her,  as  Christ  said  to  his  disciples,  'Come  ye  yourselves  apart  into  a 
desert  place,  and  rest  awhile.'  The  world  may  follow,  as  it  followed  Christ 
and  his  disciples  when  he  issued  that  order ;  if  it  follows,  it  may  also  be  fed, 
as  were  they,  with  miraculous  food;  but  the  ppmal  object  is  not  the  feeding 
of  the  multitudes,  but  the  replenishing  of  the  Church  with  grace.  She 
needs  such  replenishment  frequently. 

"  The  Church  has  fallen  again  and  again  in  her  past  long  history  ;  so  will 
she  fall  again  and  again,  unless  divine  power  continually  inspires,  upraises, 
sanctifies. 

"  To  this  end  these  forest  meetings  have  been  held.  They  have  united 
and  uplifted  the  Church  ;  they  have  recalled  the  wandering,  and  awakened 
the  slumbering  Christian.  They  have  set  many  a  saintly  one  in  more  saint- 
liness,  and  drawn  many  a  worldly  one  from  fatal  surroundings." 

II. — I  pass  to  a  second  remark,  which  is  that  holiness  in  j^rinciple  and  fact 
is  predicahle  of  all  truly  converted  persons.  Look  closely  at  the  text.  It 
says  :  "  Let  us  cleanse  ourselves,  perfecting  holiness," — completins;,  finishing 
the  holiness  already  possessed  in  an  imperfect  and  mixed  state.  I  claim  that 
every  justified  person  has  a  kind  and  degree  of  holiness.  His  business  is  to 
perfect  it  by  eliminating  from  the  mixture  the  elements  which  do  not  belong 
to  it — which  antagonize  the  elements  of  holiness  planted  in  regeneration. 
Some  cry  out  against  professing  holiness,  but  they  certainly  should  not  un- 
less they  give  up  professing  religion.  And  not  only  have  all  true  Christians 
this  internal  principle  ;  but  they  are  under  obligations  to  live  a  holy  life. 
The  idea  that  the  entirely  sanctified  are  under  higher  obligations  to  live  a  holy 
life  than  those  sanctified  but  in  part,  or  which  is  similar,  that  the  latter  can 
indulge  in  derelictions  and  be  excusable,  though  the  former  would  be  held 
responsible  in  such  case,  is  one  of  the  most  preposterous  and  absurd  notions  im- 
aginable. No.  Not  any  person  can  retain  justification  in  the  commission  of 
a  known  sin.  "  Whosoever  is  born  of  God  doth  not  commit  sin."  It  is  a 
great  misfortune  that  we  have  in  the  Church  such  a  low  standard  of  piety  in 
relation  to  the  state  of  justification.     We  seek  to  elevate  it. 

III. — In  this  connection  we  state  another  proposition,  that  a  justified  re- 
lation may  exist  without  entire  holiness,  and  while  yet  some  sinfulness — "filth- 
iness  of  the  flesh  and  spirit" — remains  in  the  heart.  The  persons  addressed 
are  manifestly  in  the  relations  of  Christians.  But  all  sin  has  not  been  cleansed 
away.  Such  is  the  lesson  also  from  I  John  3 :  3,  "  Every  man  that  hath 
this  hope  in  him  puritieth  himself."  What  hope  !  the  hope  of  a  child  of 
God,  the  hope  of  seeing  Jesus  as  he  is.  and  it  is  a  hope  in  him,  which  form  of 
expression  indicates  the  hope  to  be  an  element  of  Christian  experience,  and  cor- 
relates the  verse  with  "  Wliich  is  Christ  in  you,  the  hope  of  glory."  The  teacli- 
ing,  then,  is  that  one  may  be  a  child  of  God  and  have  in  his  experience  a  hope 
of  heaven  and  not  be  in  the  possession  of  purity  of  heart,  though  it  should  be 
added  he  will  desire  to  be  pure,  and  as  a  matter  of  fact,  also,  his  continued  jus- 
tified relation  is  conditional  on  his  seeking  to  become  so. 


A    MODERN   PENTECOST.  99 

IV. — A  further  point  this  test  makes  for  us  is,  that  perfected  holiness  implies 
the  entire  cleansing  of  the  heart  from  sin.  I  do  not  say  it  embraces  nothing 
more — it  does.  It  is  the  full,  gracious  endowment  of  perfect  love.  But  the 
point  clearly  set  forth  here  is,  that  holiness  becomes  perfect  when  the  remaining 
inbred  sin  of  the  heart  is  eliminated.  Befoi'e,  there  was  a  mixedness  ;  now,  sim- 
plicity. Before,  there  was  love,  but  also  the  germs  of  hate ;  now,  the  heart  is 
all  love.  Before,  humility  was  in  the  character,  with  some  pride  ;  now,  the 
plague  of  pride  has  been  cured.  Before,  a  peevish,  fretful  spirit  dwelt  in  the 
heart ;  now,  patience  has  her  perfect  work.  Before,  there  would  spring  up  at 
times  a  spirit  of  retaliation  ;  now,  a  pure  sweet  forgiving  spirit  is  felt,  excluding 
all  revenge  and  malice. 

Entire  cleansing,  then,  is  an  elimination,  as  bad  humors  in  the  blood  are  ex- 
pelled by  a  medicine,  or  as  dross  is  separated  from  the  gold  by  the  fire.  It  is 
an  eradication  ;  the  removal  of  the  roots  of  bitterness,  of  the  seeds  of  sin's 
disease.  It  is  a  crucifixion  ;  the  putting  to  death  of  the  body  or  the  life  of  sin ; 
and  hence  is  seen  its  distinct  and  instantaneous  character,  and  the  necessity  of 
looking  for  it  as  such.  The  method  of  seeking  it  is  not  by  lopping  off  a  branch 
here  and  cutting  away  an  excrescence  there.  The  only  successful  method  is  to 
strike  at  the  root. 

But  why  is  not  the  work  complete  at  the  time  of  conversion  ?  It  is  a  com- 
plete regeneriition,  but  not  a  complete  cleansing.  But  why  does  not  God  make 
it  so  ?  If  I  cannot  tell,  we  still  have  the  universal  fact  and  the  teachings  of 
Scripture.  But  this  may  be  said  ;  the  soul  seeking  conversion  does  not  desire 
entire  cleansing  from  inbred  sin ;  it  desires  pardon  and  hope  of  heaven  ;  and 
the  word  of  promise  is,  "  Whatsoever  things  ye  desire  when  ye  pray,  believe 
that  ye  receive  them  and  ye  shall  have  them." 

Nor  does  purity  exclude  or  preclude  maturity.  On  the  contrary,  growth  will  be 
more  rapid,  regular  and  symmetrical  after  entire  cleansing  than  before,  just  as  the 
plants  in  your  garden  will  have  a  better  growth  after  the  removal  of  the  weeds. 
Do  you  ask  how  there  can  be  growth  after  the  holiness  is  perfected  ?  Can  any- 
thing be  greater  than  perfection  ?  The  answer  is  easy.  A  circle  of  six  inches 
diameter  is  a  perfect  circle — but  so  is  one  of  much  greater  size.  A  perfect  tree, 
a  perfect  lamb,  a  perfect  child  are  susceptible  of  growth.  Christian  perfection 
is  one  of  quality.  The  heart  may  be  pure  and  filled,  but  it  is  susceptible  of  in- 
definite expansion,  and  so  may  contain  a  greater  amount.  Moreover,  religion  is 
susceptible  of  great  condensation  ;  so  that  a  larger  quantity  can  be  contained  in 
the  same  space.  A  room  is  full  of  light  at  sunrise,  but  contains  much  more  at 
mid-day.  The  space  in  an  air-condenser  is  filled  with  air,  but  turn  the  crank  a 
little  and  it  contains  a  much  larger  amount.  A  room  is  full  of  heat,  but  open 
the  register  wider  or  give  the  furnace  more  fuel  and  more  draft  and  you  get 
much  more  heat. 

V. — But  what  is  the  basis  of  this  suggestion  of  entire  cleansing  ?  We  have 
it  presented  here  in  three  particulars. 

1.  In  the  radical  and  irreconcilable  antagonism  between  sin  and  holiness, 
"What  fellowship  hath  righteousness  with  unrighteousness?"  etc.  If  these 
opposites  exist  in  the  heart,  as.  they  do  in  the  partially  sanctified  state,  it  is  man- 
ifestly a  temporary  condition.  One  or  the  other  must  sooner  or  later  be  ex- 
pelled. The  world  will  conquer  the  Church  unless  the  Church  heed  this  sugges- 
tion and  cleanse  herself     The  force  of  this  argument   at  the  present  day  is 


100  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL    CAMP-MEETING. 

tremendous.  As  Bisliop  Haven  says  in  the  article  before  referred  to,  "  The 
world  is  too  much  with  us.  It  pushes  its  corrupting  influence  upon  the 
Church.  It  makes  her  greedy  as  itself  of  pleasure,  honor,  wealth.  It  thrusts 
her  baubles  upon  the  forms  and  faces  of  her  maidens,  and  makes  them  more 
anxious  for  outward  than  for  inward  adorning.  It  makes  her  youths  lovers  of 
pleasure  rather  than  lovers  of  God.  It  heats  her  men  of  position  and  power 
with  lusts  of  the  flesh,  lust  for  fame,  lust  for  gold  ;  everything  but  a  burning- 
passion  for  Christ  and  souls."  0  for  an  inundating  wave  of  cleansing  power  to 
roll  over  all  the  churches  of  the  land  ! 

2.  In  the  statement  of  the  divine  indwelling,  "  Ye  are  the  temple  of  the 
living  God,"  '^  1  will  dwell  in  them,"  etc.,  God  comes  to  the  human  heart,  not 
as  a  visitor  or  transient  guest,  but  to  make  it  his  permanent  residence.  "We 
will  make  our  abode  with  him."  Hence  the  place  must  be  made  entirely  holy. 
"  What !"  exclaimed  a  young  man,  "am  I  a  temple  of  God  ? — my  soul  to  be  a 
home  for  Jesus  ?  Then  what  can  I  do  to  make  it  agreeable  to  him  ?  I  cer- 
tainly want  everything  fitted  to  his  taste,  and  my  tastes  in  all  respects  conformed 
to  his.'^    Sensible  young  man.   Legitimate  conclusion.    Let  us  cleanse  ourselves. 

3.  In  the  special  promise,  "  I  will  receive  you."  "  Come  out  and  touch  not 
the  unclean,  and  I  will  receive  you."  From  such  a  basis — the  basis  of  God's 
eternal,  immutable  promise,  simply  as  an  argument,  how  irresistible  the  conclu- 
sion. Then  let  us  cleanse  ourselves.  0  the  exceeding  great  and  precious 
promises  implied  in  God's  infinite  abhorrence  of  sin — in  the  great  truth  of  his 
personal  indwelling,  and  given  in  a  thousand  special  statements !  "I  will  re- 
ceive you,"  "  I  will  save  you  from  all  your  uncleanliness,"  etc.  Having  these 
promises — what  to  do  with  them  ?  Why — use  them  in  cleansing.  The  prom- 
ises are  our  instruments  or  means  of  cleansing.  We  cleanse  our  hands  and  face 
with  soap  and  water.  We  cleanse  our  souls  by  means  of  the  promises.  But 
how  am  I  to  use  the  promises  ?  By  believing  them.  The  first  thing  to  do 
with  the  promises  is  to  believe  them — and  the  next,  and  the  nest ;  and  so  using 
them  we  shall  surely  realize  their  fulfillment  in  our  complete  purification. 

"  I  cannot  wash  my  heart 
But  by  believing  thee, 
,  And  waiting  for  thy  blood  to  impart 

The  spotless  purity. 

"  Come  til  en,  for  Jesus'  sake, 
And  bid  my  heart  be  clean. 
An  end  of  all  my  troubles  make. 
An  end  of  all  my  sin." 


A    MODERN    PENTECOST,  101 

FIFTH  DAY. 
SABBATH  MORNING. 


Dr.  Lowrey  conducted  tlie  services  at  5  A,  M.,  which  were  of  a  deeply  inter- 
esting character.  Passages  of  Scri^sture  were  quoted  after  the  opening  hymn 
and  prayer,  and  such  was  the  beauty,  appropriateness,  and  power  of  these  pro- 
miscuous texts,  that  the  people  were  filled  with  light  and  joy,  as  they  partici- 
pated or  listened. 

Then  followed  experience.  A  sister  from  Connecticut  praised  Grod  for 
the  living  Word.  It  showed  her  the  possibility  of  a  present  and  full  salvation  ; 
and  believing,  she  was  saved. 

A  Massachusetts  brother  also  proved  its  power  to  sanctify.  "  Now  are  ye 
clean  through  the  word,"  &c.  His  heart's  desire  and  prayer  to  God  this  morn- 
ing was  expressed  in  the  stanza  : 

"  Come  and  possess  me  whole 
Nor  hence  again  remove  : 
Settle  and  fix  my  wavering  soul 
With  all  thy  weight  of  love." 

"  That,"  said  the  leader,  "  is  a  good  prayer  for  every  one  here.  If  we  prevail 
it  must  be  by  believing  prayer.    Now  let  us  again  approach  the  mercy-seat." 

After  several  had  prayed,  and  the  general  earnestness  had  been  indicated  by 
hearty  responses  from  all  parts  of  the  congregation,  the  entire  assembly  united 
in  repeating  the  Lord's  prayer,  and  we  never  before  heard  it  so  impressively 
uttered. 

The  Doctor  suggested  that  speaking  should  be  brief  and  pointed.  Some 
bremren  and  sisters,  he  remarked,  being  full,  will  speak  always,  and  speak  long  ; 
but  let  us  be  considerate  to  others,  and  put  what  we  have  to  say  in  the  smallest 
possible  compass  of  words. 

"I  know,"  exclaimed  Brother  Barker,  "  that  I  am  a  new  creature  in  Christ 
Jesus,  when  I  contrast  my  present  condition  with  what  I  was  twenty  years  ago. 
I  never  was  a  beast,  but  I  came  very  near  being  a  demon.  This  morning  my 
heart  is  full  of  love  to  God,  and  good  will  to  men. 

"  My  soul's  full  of  glory,  inspiring  my  tongue, 
CouUl  I  meet  with  the  angels,  I'd  sing  them  a  song  ; 
I  would  sing  of  my  Jesus,  and  tell  of  his  charms, 
And  beg  them  to  bear  me  to  His  loving  arms." 

Father  Baldwin  :  "  Bless  the  Lord,  0  my  soul !  These  last  days  are  my  best 
days.  For  fifty-five  years  He  has  delivered  me  from  the  cares  of  the  world,  the 
lust  of  the  eye  and  the  pride  of  life.  I  had  a  good  night  through  the  rain  ; 
for  God  sent  it,  and  my  soul  rejoices  in  his  salvation." 


102  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL    CAMP-MEETING. 

"  I  was  a  very  diflScult  case  to  manage,"  said  Brother  Stockton :  "but  the 
Lord  understood  me  from  the  start,  and  knows  that  I  love  him  now  with  all  my 
ransomed  powers.  I  expect  to  help  sing  of  His  mighty  love,  through  time  and 
all  eternity." 

"  My  first  concern  when  I  came  to  this  meeting,"  said  a  Presbyterian  minis- 
ter, "  was  to  be  thoroughly  emptied — now  I  am  being  gloriously  filled.  I  am 
down  in  the  fountain,  and  the  tides  of  salvation  are  flowing  over  me." 

A  brother :  "  Ever  since  that  memorable  Monday  night  at  Manheim,  I  have 
tasted  the  sweetness  of  this  full  salvation ;  and  I  am  saved  at  home  just  as  much 
as  here." 

Thus,  for  one  hour,  testimony  rapidly  flowed  in,  until  the  time  for  clos- 
ing these  morning  devotions.  In  response  to  the  inquiry,  "  Who  here  are 
wholly  sanctified  ?"  about  one  hundred  stood  up;  afterwards  fully  half  that 
number  rose  as  seekers  of  the  blessing. 


THE  GENERAL  LOVE-FEAST. 

As  the  multitude  crowded  ipto  the  Tabernacle,  at  8  o'clock  A.  M.,  one 
sentiment  seemed  to  suit  every  individual  present — 

"The  peace  of  Christ  makes  fresh  my  heart, 

A  fountain  ever  springiug; 
AJl  tilings  are  mine,  since  I  am  His  ; 

How  can  I  keep  from  singing?" 

Rev.  W.  L.  Gray  conducted  the  exercises,  being  sustained  by  a  full  corps 
of  ministers  on  the  ground.  There  was  no  reliable  count  kept  of  the  num- 
ber who  witnessed  for  Christ.  As  near  as  we  could  judge  the  testimonies 
exceeded  one  hundred;  not  near  as  many  as  usual,  but  impressive  and  satis- 
factory, because  men  and  women  took  time  to  say  something  beyond,  the 
brief  and  disconnected  sentences  which  often  characterize  these  occasions, 
such  as  "Saved  now;"  "All  for  Christ;"  "The  blood  cleanseth,"  etc. 

After  a  number  of  preachers  had  spoken  briefly,  the  people  with  freedom 
took  up  the  theme,  and  it  gave  great  interest  to  the  repetition  of  experience, 
as  one  after  another  told  when,  and  where  they  were  converted,  and  the  cir- 
cumstances under  which  they  were  wholly  sanctified  to  God;  as  for  in- 
stance— 

"At  Oakington,  four  years  ago,  under  this  same  canvas,  I  was  led  to  make 
a  full  consecration ;  there  I  received  the  pledge  of  '  perfect  love.'  Ever 
sihce  I  have  held  up  the  banner  of  holiness.  Opposition  has  assailed,  temp- 
tation beset  me,  but  grace  has  been  sufficient.  We  have  now  a  regular 
meeting  in  my  charge,  for  the  promotion  of  holiness,  and  the  cause  is  gaining 
ground." 


A    MODERN    PENTECOST.  103 

"  Thirteen  years  ago,  the  Lord  converted  me  sweetly  and  clearly.  Three 
years  ago  he  sanctified  me,  and  most  wonderfully  has  he  kept  me  to  this  day.'' 

"  I  was  brought  as  a  trembling  sinner  to  the  mercy  seat  fifty-six  years  ago, 
and  found  redemption  through  Christ.  I  was  for  long  years  under  convic- 
tion for  cleansing,  and  at  Oakington  through  the  teaching  I  there  received, 
I  saw  it  was  my  privilege  to  be  sanctified  wholly.  I  trusted  the  blood.  The 
Spirit  helped,  and  the  baptism  of  power  came  on  my  soul.  0,  I  have  no 
language  to  describe  it !     I  am  saved  this  morning." 

"I  have  never  been  in  such  a  meeting  as  this :  so  many  saved  people  here- 
0,  Glory  to  Jesus !  I'm  with  you  in  this  army  of  the  living  God,  to  go 
through  the  war !" 

"One  year  ago  at  Sea  Cliff"  Camp-meeting,  I  practically  learned  that  the 
'  fountain  opened  for  sin  and  uucleanliness'  availed  for  me,  to  cleanse  from 
all  sin.  My  pride,  myself  and  all  were  lost  in  that  tide,  and  I  arose,  went 
forth,  and  learned  to  follow  Jesus  fully.     This  brought  perfect  rest." 

Dr.  Nast,  in  an  emotional  way,  and  in  his  broken  English  words  declared : 
"  The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  I  can  testify,  cleanseth  me — even  me — from  all 
sin.  It  saves  me  fully;  I  know  no  other  than  a  full  salvation.  I  felt  the 
need  of  it,  as  soon  as  I  saw  my  desperate  state  as  a  sinner.  Persevering  in 
my  earnest  plea,  I  found  it." 

Singing : 

"The  cleansing  stream,  I  see,  I  see, 
I  plunge,  and,  0,  it  cleanses  me  !" 

"  When  quite  a  child  I  gave  my  heart  to  Jesus,  and  four  years  ago  I  was 
sanctified  throughout  soul,  body  and  spirit.    I  am  all  the  Lord's  this  morning." 

"  Nothing  but  this  full  salvation  could  have  saved  such  a  drunkard  and 
gambler  as  I  was.  What  God  has  done  for  me  is  all  described  in  Ezekiel  36, 
from  the  twenty-fifth  to  the  twenty-ninth  verse.  Yes,  this  fire  of  the  Holy 
Ghost  swept  out  of  me  the  defilement  of  rum  and  tobacco,  and  purified  me 
inside  and  outside.     Glory  to  the  Lamb  !" 

Singing  :— 

"I've  washed  my  garments  white 

In  the  blood  of  the  Lamb  I 
The  world  is  overcome 

Through  the  blood  of  the  Lamb." 

"Last  fall,  the  precious  Home  Journal  brought  to  my  notice  the  welcome 
word  that  a  National  Camp-meeting  was  appointed  for  Landisville.  I  had 
a  good  shout  over  it.  Since  that  day  my  thoughts  have  been  turning  to  this 
event,  and  this  time.  I  have  been  on  the  ground  since  Monday,  and  have 
not  yet  had  a  chance  to  speak.  Twenty -five  years  of  my  life  have  been  hap- 
pily spent  in  the  service  of  God.  At  Manheim  I  first  had  my  attention 
directed  to  the  '  higher  life.'  I  confess  to  an  awakened  prejudice  against  it ; 
but  I  could  not  get  rid  of  the  impression  that  it  was  my  duty  to  seek  holi- 


104  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

ness.  Alone  in  my  room,  reading  God's  word,  I  saw  the  blessing  was  for  me. 
One  year  I  was  seeking  the  experience.  At  the  Lebanon  Camp-meeting,  I 
retired  one  night  with  prayer  that  I  might  wake  up  sanctified.  The  first 
thought  of  my  waking  was — 

"  Other  refuge  have  I  none, 
Hangs  my  helpless  soul  on  thee.  " 

"  I  went  to  the  meetings  during  that  memorable  day,  with  this  verse  still 
ringing  in  my  ears  and  soul — '  Other  refuge  have  I  none,"  etc.  I  was  on  the 
point  of  being  blessed,  when  Satan  suggested  a  difficulty.  Looking  down 
and  noticing  a  spot  on  my  dress,  I  prayed  '  cleanse  me  from  every  spot.' 
The  next  moment  I  was  wrapped  up  in  a  new  emotion.  I  exclaimed,  '  I've 
got  it,  I've  got  it.'  0  yes ;  then  I  knew  the  work  was  done.  The  leaves 
on  the  trees  seemed  tinged  with  gold.  Every  thing  praised  God.  I  went 
into  the  meetings,  and  was  filled  with  the  fullness  of  God.  Soon  a  voice 
whispered  to  my  conscience,  '  leave  off  all  your  jewelry.'  I  began  to  par- 
ley, remembering  the  Presiding  Elder  wore  it ;  but  it  had  to  come  off,  all 
but  one  little  memorial  I  prized.  Finally  that  was  laid  aside,  and  I  came 
home  happy.  Satan  again  suggested, — '  better  not  profess  this  about  home. ' 
I  noticed  clinging  to  my  dress  a  straw  from  the  camp  and  the  spot  where  I 
had  been  blessed.  I  took  that  straw  and  put  it  in  my  Bible,  and  it  is  there 
yet.  I  began  and  have  not  ceased  to  profess  this  blessing.  I  am  honored  to 
have  a  meeting  in  my  own  house  (in  Lancaster)  for  holiness.  Oh,  how  I  pray 
that  this  meeting  may  add  to  our  number." 

"  I  came  here  from  Virginia  to  regain  the  power  of  sanctifying  grace.  I 
first  experienced  this  at  Manheim.  By  inadvertence  I  lost  it,  and  have  been 
discouraged  and  buffeted,  until  life  became  unbearable  without  it.  Nine 
mouths  ago  I  prayed  on  the  Blue  Ridge  that  I  might  be  permitted  to  attend 
this  meeting.  I  received  an  impression  that  I  should  ask  Father  Coleman  to 
pray  with  me.  Last  Friday  he  did  so.  I  then  believed.  I  found  it  easy 
to  believe.  I  died  indeed  unto  sin.  Jesus,  the  Son  of  God,  did  save  me. 
A   definite  confession  is  due  here,  and  I  must  make  it  before  all  the  people." 

Here  it  was  intimated  the  people  must  be  short  and  confine  themselves  to 
present  experience,  so  many  wanted  to  be  heard  for  the  name  of  the  Lord 
Jesus.  A  seeker  arose  and  said  nothing  suited  his  case  at  present  but  the 
words — 

"  Rock  of  ages  cleft  for  mo, 
Let  me  hide  myself  in  tliee." 

A  brother  from  Cincinnati,  illustrating  the  love  of  God  and  his  compas- 
sion for  us,  referred  to  a  maimed  child,  or  one  so  sickly  and  weak  as  to  need 
more  than  others  a  mother's  love  and  sympathy;  so  if  we  are  poor  and  un- 
worthy, God  will  care  for  us  and  come  nigh  to  help  and  save  the  weakest  here. 
The  speaking  then  proceeded — 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  105 

"  At  tte  first  Ohio  State  Camp-meeting  Jesus  revealed  himself  to  me  as  a 
complete  Saviour,  and  I  accepted  him.     He  is  mine  and  I  am  his." 

"  I  am  washed  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb." 

"  For  six  years  I  have  been  endeavoring  to  live  perfect  love  at  home.  All 
we  have  and  are  belongs,  and  is  consecrated  to  God.  Even  the  chickens  are 
under  his  care,  and  belong  to  him.  I  remonstrated  when  they  proposed  to 
put  a  lightning  rod  on  my  husband's  barn.  Why  should  we  do  so  ?  It  is 
all  the  Lord's,  and  he  controls  the  lightning ;  if  he  burns  it  up,  it  is  all  his 
own." 

"I  love  to  tell  the  story,"  was  now  sung  with  tremendous  efi"ect,  and  wave 
after  wave  of  emotion  rolled  over  the  assembly. 

"I  was  born  of  a  Christian  mother,  but  I  was  born  again  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  full  salvation  is  my  heartfelt  experience  this  morninsr." 

"  Glory  to  Jesus  that  I  am  here;  my  experience  in  a  word  is" — singing: 

"Jesus  saves,  0  bliss  sublime, 
Jesus  saves  me  all  the  time." 

"I  am  so  glad  that  a  Baptist  may  stand  up  here,  and  profess  this  grace. 
Jesus  reigns  without  a  rival  in  my  heart." 

A  lad  hailing  from  Massachusetts  said  he  and  several  companions  re- 
tired to  a  room,  and  there  determined  not  to  leave  until  each  was  wholly 
sanctified.  God  took  them  at  their  word  and  fulfilled  his  own  promise.  His 
language  was — 

"  Trusting,  trusting  every  moment, 

Feeling  now  the  blood  applied  : 
Lying  at  the  cleansing  fountain, 

Dwelling  at  my  Saviour's  side. 

"Long  my  earnest  heart  was  trying 

To  enjoy  this  perfect  rest ; 
But  I  gave  all  trying  over, — 

Simply  trusting,  I  was  blest." 

A  sister  from  Long  Island  sang  some  verses  which  increased  the  current 
of  religious  sensibility  until  it  became  intense. 

"I  stand  all  bewildered  and  wonder, 

And  gaze  on  the  ocean  of  love ; 
And  over  its  waves  to  my  spirit 

Comes  peace  like  a  heavenly  dove, 
"  The  cross  now  covers  my  sins, 

The  past  is  under  the  blood  , 
I  am  trusting  in  Jesus  for  all. 

My  will  is  the  will  of  my  God. 
"I  struggled  and  wrestled  to  win  it, 

The  blessing  that  maketh  me  free  ; 
But  when  I  had  ceased  from  my  struggle, 

His  peace  Jesus  gave  unto  me." 

The  closing  verse — "  My  will  is  the  will  of  my  God,"  suggested  to  a  bro- 
ther  that   this  was  a  great  conflict  with  him,  but  the  point  was  gained. 


106  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

"Now,"  he  continued,  '•  my  will  is  the  will  of  my  God.  '  I  am  crucified  with 
Christ,  nevertheless  I  live,  yet  not  I,  but  Christ  liveth  in  me.'  I  can  say 
more — the  life  I  now  live  is  by  the  faith  of  the  Son  of  God.  Whether  I  eat 
or  drink,  or  whatever  I  do,  I  do  all  to  the  glory  of  Grod." 

"  Three  weeks  ago,  I  heard  a  Presbyterian  boy  speak  of  the  hope  within 
him,  and  such  was  his  confidence  in  the  fullness  of  Christ's  power  and  love 
to  save  him  in  life  and  death,  that  I  believed  it  was  worth  more  than  A.  T. 
Stewart's  property.     I  thank  God  I  have  the  same  glorious  prospect." 

"September  18th,  1845,  I  was  made  a  partaker,  and  became  a  witness 
for  full  salvation.  I  can  assure  all  here  who  are  desiring  this  blessing,  that 
God  can  as  easily  wash  their  hearts  as  to  send  such  a  copious  rain  last  night 
upon  the  parched  earth." 

"  All  is  clear  with  me  this  morning."  (He  had  been  in  perplexity  as  an 
inquirer.)  "  Not  a  cloud  between  me  and  God.  He  led  me  and  I  followed. 
He  stirred  up  my  nest.  The  thorns  pierced  me,  and  I  was  compelled  to  fly 
to  the  rock.  There  I'm  resting  now.  Lost  to  self,  but  cleansed  in  the 
fountain." 

"  I  cannot  enter  into  the  detail,"  said  Sister  Smith,  "  of  when,  where  and 
how  it  was  that  I  was  saved,  farther  than  to  say  I  was  converted  in  1856  and 
sanctified  in  1868,  in  Green  St.  M.  E.  Church  when  Bro.  Inskip  was  pastor 
there.  I  am  a  witness  that  the  blood  cleanseth.  A  verse  of  Scripture  suits 
my  case  exactly — '  Unto  me  who  am  less  than  the  least  of  all  saints  is  this 
grace  given,  that  I  might  preach  among  the  Gentiles  the  unsearchable  riches 
of  Christ.    Hallelujah!"     She  then  sang — 

"The  blood,  the  blood  is  all  my  plea, 

Nor  should  a  sinner  wonder, 

For  guilty  stain  and  stinging  pain 

Had  torn  my  heart  asunder!" 

"  I  rest,  i  rest  supremely  blest, 

Without  a  care  to  canker ; 
No  gloomy  night,  my  path  is  light. 
My  hope  holds  like  an  anchor." 

"  Seven  years  ago  the  Lord  taught  me  this  way,  and  by  his  mighty  power 
he  fully  saved  me.     I  rejoice  in  his  salvation  to-day." 

"  This  is  the  way  I  long  have  sought.  I  came  from  Massachusetts,  think- 
ing all  along  my  journey,  '  Shall  I  find  it  here?'  On  Thursday  I  bowed 
among  the  seekers,  and  last  night,  amid  thunder  and  lightning,  and  rain,  my 
heart  was  cleansed  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  precious  blood  of  Christ." 

"  If  our  fellowship  below, 
In  Jesus  be  so  sweet." 

This  sentiment  is  running  through  my  mind.     I  am  in  the  shallows  on  the 
edge  of  the  stream.     I  want  to  launch  out  and  float  along  in  the  great  dee 
of  this  salvation." 


A    MODERN   PENTECOST.  107 

"  At  Brandywine  Summit  some  years  ago  I  obtained  the  blessing  of  heart 
purity,  but  neglected  to  talk  about  it  to  my  class,  and  soon  lost  the  sweetness 
and  light  out  of  my  heart.  This  morning  at  the  early  meeting,  I  pleaded 
with  God  to  restore  it,  and  while  the  doxology  was  being  sung  my  poor  soul 
was  again  filled.  Now  I  rejoice  with  exceeding  great  joy,  and  you  may  be 
sure  I'll  go  home  to  tell  it. " 

"  In  the  language  of  that  sweet  hymn,  sung  by  the  sister,  I  feel  that  I  am 
'  under  the  blood.'  I  reached  the  ground  last  night  in  the  heavy  rain,  and 
went  to  sleep  supperless ;  but  Jesus  was  better  than  supper.  He  is  all  in 
all." 

"  The  Gospel  is  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation  to  every  one  that  believ- 
eth,     I  believe,  and  am  therefore  saved." 

"  That  is  the  way  I  was  saved." 

"  At  the  Hamilton  (Mass.)  Camp-meeting,  while  Bro.  Boole  was  preach- 
ing,  the  power  came  upon  me,  and  God  has  kept  me  ever  since.  This  was  a 
great  event  for  me." 

"  In  a  word,  I  am  entirely,  unreservedly  and  eternally  the  Lord's." 

"  At  a  place  called  Mt.  Tabor,  two  years  ago,  I  entered  in." 

"My  life  flows  on  in  endless  song, 

Above  earth's  lamentation  ; 
I  catch  the  sweet  though  far-off  hymn 

That  hails  a  new  creation. 
Through  all  the  tumult  and  the  strife, 


I  hear  the  music  i 


mging; 


It  finds  an  echo  in  my  heart, 
How  can  I  keep  from  singing. 

"  I  was  converted  near  the  spot  in  England  where  Bishop  Asbury  was  born. 
I  wandered'  from  the  way  for  five  years,  and  then  came  back,  and  Jesus  re- 
ceived me.  A  conviction  was  given  me  that  I  must  preach  the  gospel,  and  I 
was  told,  in  answer  to  a  question,  that  the  preparation  to  preach  was  a  sancti- 
fied heart.  This  I  sought,  and  found  it  all  alone,  and  it  was  like  a  little 
heaven  put  into  my  soul.  I  was  then  ready  to  go  and  die,  if  need  be,  like 
Cox  in  Africa.  But  God  sent  me  to  America.  The  mighty  God  has  been 
with  me.  I  don't  know  what  is  coming.  At  Round  Lake  I  said  I  wanted 
to  live  long  enough  to  see  one  hundred  thousand  souls  converted.  I  think 
this  will  prove  the  greatest  meeting  ever  held.  0  that  sinners  might  feel 
the  power  of  conviction  !  We  must  preach  hell  to  them.  There  is  so  little 
said  now-a-days  about  an  awful  hell,  and  the  world  is  going  there.  God  help 
us  to  feel  for  them,  and  preach  so  as  to  convict  them,  and  get  them  saved  in 
Christ." 

"  I  am  journeying  on  the  King's  highway,  and  no  lion  is  there,  nor  any 
ravenous  beast,  but  the  redeemed  of  the  Lord  walk  there." 


108  SIXTEENTH   NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

"  For  nearly  four  years  '  the  law  of  the  Spirit  of  life  in  Christ  Jesus,  hath 
made  me  free  from  the  law  of  sin  and  death,'  and  my  confidence  is,  that '  the 
Lord  shall  deliver  me  from  every  evil  work,'  and  will  preserve  me  unto  his 
heavenly  kingdom,  to  whom  be  glory  forever  and  ever — Amen." 

"  I  am  redeemed — redeemed."  This  chorus  was  sung  by  a  brother,  but 
the  shouts  became  so  general  that  the  reporter  could  not  catch  his  further 
expressions,  except  when  he  fervently  closed  by  saying,  "  Glory  be  to  the 
Father,  and  to  the  Son,  and  to  the  Holy  Grhost.  '  As  it  was  in  the  beginning, 
is  now,  and  ever  shall  be,  world  without  end."     (Many  voices — "Amen  !  ") 

A  minister  referred  to  his  being  converted  in  childhood,  and  sanctified 
subsequently.  He  trembled  to  think  of  his  past  remissness  in  not  holding 
up  a  definite  testimony.     He  now  felt  "  free  in  Christ  Jesus." 

"  The  Grate  Ajar  "  was  here  sung  with  indescribable  enthusiasm. 

A  brother  from  the  interior  of  New  York  said  he  had  the  reputation  of  being 
the  worst  boy  in  his  native  State  ;  but  Christ  took  him  in  hand.  They  said  : 
'*  He  can't  be  saved,"  but  he  was  able  to  glorify  the  name  of  Jesus,  that  his  sins 
were  pardoned,  and  his  heart  filled  with  peace.  He  was  now  ready  for  work  ; 
would  go  forth  wherever  God  appointed  his  lot. 

A  Wilmington  minister  said,  ''I  am  this  morning  in  heavenly  places  in  Christ 
Jesus.  How  can  any  doubt  the  power  of  the  blood  of  Christ  to  cleanse  the 
soul  from  all  sin?     I  realize  it  joyfully  in  my  heart." 

"  Such  a  hallowed  influence  as  fills  this  place,  I  never  felt  before.  Surely 
God  is  here." 

I  lived  thirty-six  years  in  the  Church  up  and  down,  until  five  months  ago  the 
Lord  gave  me  something  that  I  had  never  known  before.  I  consecrated  every- 
thing ;  and  at  3  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  divine  power  came  and  filled  me. 
Now  I  know  the  blood  cleanseth.  It  is  not  a  hope  so,  and  no  one  need  tell  me 
this  is  all  nonsense.  I  know  for  myself  that  it  is  true.  I  am  perfectly  satisfied 
there  is  no  mistake  about  it.  This  cleansing  was  thorough  ;  no  taste  for  tobacco 
or  beer,  or  any  wrong  fleshly  indulgence  left.  0  I  am  happy  in  Jesus,  and  I 
want  the  brethren  who  are  here  from  our  church  to  get  this  blessing  before 
they  go  home,  for  I  am  almost  alone  there  on  this  question.  May  God  bless 
our  church,  and  bless  you  all !" 

"  My  testimony  here  is  the  same  as  it  was  out  in  Iowa  a  few  days  ago.  Be- 
ing made  free  from  sin  and  become  a  servant  of  God,  I  have  fruit  unto  holiness, 
and  am  now  waiting  for  the  end,  everlasting  life." 

"  I  was  made  a  partaker  of  perfect  love,  at  Manheim,  and  have  never  lost  it." 

"  In  Western  New  York  I  read  the  good  Home  Journal,  and  through  its 
testimony  have  been  greatly  helped  and  blessed  in  this  way  of  holiness.  I  also 
can  say  '  fully  saved  !'  " 

Brother  Dunn — "  Where  shall  my  wandering  soul  begin  ?  It  does  not  seem 
much  to  say  I  am  all  the  Lord's ;  but  it  is  something  to  say  He  is  mine.    Prom- 


A   MODERN  PENTECOST.  109 

inent  brethren  said  they  were  sorry  for  me,  when  it  became  known  I  had  asso- 
ciated myself  with  the  '  holiness  people,'  and  professed  to  be  sanctified  ;  but  it 
has  not  hurt  me  in  reputation,  appointments,  or  usefulness.  I  am  glad  to  be 
here  to-day,  a  witness  to  full  salvation. 

"  It  is  a  great  thing  for  me  to  feel  I  am  all  the  Lord^s.  It  cost  a  tremendous 
struggle.  I  had  to  die  to  live.  For  twenty-five  years  at  camp-meetings  and 
love-feasts  (in  Rhode  Island)  I  have  been  able  to  testify  that  I  am  saved." 

"  I  have  two  testimonies,"  said  Brother  Hughes.  "  One  is  on  my  own  be- 
half. '  I  am  determined  to  know  nothing  among  men  save  Jesus  Christ  and 
him  crucified.'  I  hold  on  to  Jesus  by  simple  faith ;  and  he  holds  on  to  me 
with  a  divine  grasp.  The  other  case  is  that  of  a  dear  afilicted  one,  who,  far 
from  here,  and  confined  to  her  bed  in  constant  pain,  is  yet  so  interested  in  this 
meeting  that  her  heart  follows  every  service.  Grod  bless  sister  Jennie  Smith." 
(Those  who  remember  her  at  Urbana,  and  all  others,  felt  the  impulse  to  cry 
"Amen,  Lord  sustain  and  bless  her  !") 

"  Still  I'm  trusting,"  was  sung  and  Mrs.  Inskip  took  the  opportunity  to 
speak — "  I  am  reminded  by  Brother  Dunn's  remarks  of  a  temptation  of  Satan 
which  met  me,  when  I  wanted  to  be  sanctified.  It  was  suggested  '  Now  if  you 
profi  ss  this  blessing,  you  will  make  trouble,  and  stop  up  your  husband's  way.' 
Well  I  must  have  it,  and  said,  '  Give  me  Jesus  wherever  we  have  to  go.'  He 
came  and  cleansed  my  heart,  and  two  weeks  afterward  he  fully  saved  my  dear 
husband ;  then  instead  of  being  sent  away  from  social  influences  and  large 
churches,  there  never  was  so  many  calls  for  us  to  labor.     Bless  the  Lord  !'  " 

"  Yes,  sister  Inskip,  bless  the  Lord  for  old  Sing  Sing  Camp-meeting,  where 
you  obtained  the  blessing.  Oh,  how  many  '  Pisgahs,'  and  '  Tabors,'  and  '  Elims,' 
there  are  along  our  journey.  I  have  had  some  severe  troubles,  as  well  as  sweet 
resting  places.  I  have  been  a  weeping  Jeremiah  of  late,  going  through  the 
streets  with  my  heart  broken  over  the  perverseness  of  the  people,  and  some 
serious  losses,  but  there  is  a  reason  for  it  all.  I  soon  go  to  the  West  to  work 
for  Jesus,  and  feel  that  the  tempest  makes  me  strong.     I  ask  your  prayers." 

Here  Rev.  Wm.  C.  Stockton  sing — 

"  I'd  rather  be  the  least  of  them, 
Who  are  the  Lord's  alone, 
Than  wenr  a  royal  diadem, 
And  sit  upon  a  throne." 

The  audience  joined  in  the  refrain ;  during  the  singing  a  holy  exciteme»t 
swept  over  the  meeting,  and  while  Brother  Bai-ker  was  speaking,  the  people 
praised  God,  aloud.  To  this  brother  the  scenes  of  the  Camp-meeting  were  all 
new,  and  his  delight  in  the  sweet  Christian  fellowshipof  so  many  simple  hearted 
followers  of  Jesus,  was  unbounded. 

"  Ever  since  I  arrived  on  the  ground,"  said  Brother  Thompson,  "  I  think  I 
have  been  led  by  the  Spirit.  I  have  said  but  little,  but  my  heart  has  been  full 
of  unutterable  thanksgiving  to  God.  I  have  some  realization  of  the  meaning 
of  that  passage  which  says :  '  In  whom  ye  rejoice,  with  joy  unspeakable,  and 
full  of  glory.'  I  can  only  say,  glory,  glory  to  God,  for  this  salvation."  Then 
rose  in  strains  of  power,  and  pathos,  the  song — 

"  Glory  to  the  Lamb. 
Fve  washed  my  garments  white,  ' 

In  the  blood  of  the  Lamb." 


110  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 


SABBATH  MORNING,  lo  a.  m. 

SERMON  BY  REV.  J.  S.  INSKIP,  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  NATIONAL 
CAMP-MEETING  ASSOCIATION. 


"  And  that  ya  put  on  the  neio  man.,  tohich  after  God  is  renewed  in  ri/jhteous- 
ness  and  trueJioliness." — Uph.  4  :  25. 

The  responsibility  of  the  task  now  before  me,  I  think  I  fully  appreciate. 
The  subject  upon  which  it  is  proposed  to  dwell  is  attracting  the  attention  of 
the  people  of  Grod  everywhere.  A  profound  and  wide-spread  interest  has 
been  awakened  in  the  mind  of  the  Christian  Church  upon  this  all-important 
theme.  Whatever  may  be  written  or  said  in  regard  to  it,  is  read  and  heard 
with  the  most  devout  consideration  and  deference.  One  of  the  most  hopeful 
omens  of  the  times  is  the  fact  that  this  topic  is  before  the  minds  of  the  great 
body  of  believers  unencumbered  by  controversy.  There  is  an  obvious  en- 
deavor to  preserve  the  "  unity  of  the  Spirit,"  and  harmonize  any  conflicting 
views  which  may  yet  remain.  I  should  deem  myself  most  unfortunate,  if 
anything  I  may  say  should  at  all  hinder  this.  I  trust,  by  the  help  of  the 
blessed  Spirit,  that  what  I  shall  say  will  only  stimulate  all  to  press  onward  in 
the  "King's  highway,"  and  seek  that  "full  conformity  to  the  Divine  will," 
which  is  the  real  basis  of  purity,  and  the  true  source  of  happiness. 

I.  What  is  True  Holiness? 

1.  As  a  generic  term  it  includes  whatever  is  connected  with  the  Christian 
life  and  character.  Thus  interpreted  it  may  be  applied  to  any  and  all  stages 
of  religious  life  and  development. 

2.  It  is,  however,  used  in  a  more  definite  sense  than  this.  Among  a  large 
class  the  term  is  synonymous  with  "purity,"  "perfection,"  "  sanctification," 
"entire  sanctification,"  "  perfect  love,"  and  the  "  higher  life,"  and  numerous 
others. 

3.  Which  of  these  terms  shall  be  employed  is  immaterial  in  one  view, 
and  yet  immensely  important  in  another.  If  the  question  be  simply  one  of 
terminology,  it  may  perhaps  be  deemed  comparatively  unimportant.  And 
when  we  propose  one  of  these  Scripture  terras  as  more  clear  and  more  read- 
ily understood  than  others,  this  is  all  right.  Rut  when,  for  any  reason  what- 
ever, we  use  the  uninspired  verbiage  of  man,  rather  than  the  words  which 
God  has  chosen,  we  certainly  commit  a  great  error,  if  not  a  grave  wrong.  It 
must  be  aduiitted  that  on  account  of  the  grievous  abuse,  and  persistent  mis- 
understanding of  these  terms,  it  is  sometimes  ditficult  to  use  them.  Yet  we 
must  not  abandon  them. 

4.  But  what  is  true  holiness?  This  undoubtedly  is  the  great  question. 
We  should  seek  to  know  what  it  is,  as  far  more  essential  than  the  mere  words 
we  may  use  in  speaking  of  it.  The  terms  we  have  quoted,  we  propose  to  use 
indiscriminately.  Strictly  interpreted  there  is  a  shade  of  difference  in  their 
import ;  but  as  generally  used  they  mean  one  and  the  same  thing. 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  Ill 

5.  The  nature  and  true  idea  of  holiness  may  be  gathered  from  the  numer- 
ous passages  of  Scripture  in  which  it  is  spoken  of.  The  word  of  Grod  is  full 
of  this  glorious  theme.  Dr.  Foster  has  well  said  :  "  The  doctrine  we  con- 
tend for  is  not  limited  to  a  bare  and  questionable  place,  a  doubtful  and  un- 
certain existence  in  the  holy  records,  but  is  repeatedly  and  abundantly — 
explicitly  and  with  great  clearness — embodied  as  a  cardinal  feature  throughout 
the  whole  system.  It  breathes  in  the  prophecy — thunders  in  the  law — mur- 
murs in  the  narrative — whispers  in  the  promises — supplicates  in  the  prayers 
— sparkles  in  the  poetry — resounds  in  the  songs — speaks  in  the  types — glows 
in  the  imagery — voices  in  the  language — and  burns  in  the  spirit  of  the 
whole  scheme,  from  its  Alpha  to  its  Omega — from  its  beginning  to  its  end. 
Holiness  !  Holiness  needed  !  Holiness  required  !  Holiness  offered  !  Ho- 
liness attainable  !  Holiness  a  present  duty — a  present  privilege — a  present 
enjoyment,  is  the  progress  and  completeness  of  its  wonderous  theme !  It  is 
the  truth  glowing  all  over — webbing  all  through  revelation;  the  glorious 
truth  which  sparkles,  and  whispers,  and  sings,  and  shouts  in  all  its  history, 
and  biography,  and  poetry,  and  prophecy,  and  precept,  and  pi'omise,  and  pray- 
er; the  great  central  truth  of  the  system.  The  wonder  is,  that  all  do  not  see, 
that  any  rise  up  to  question,  a  truth  so  conspicuous,  so  glorious,  so  full  of 
comfort." 

The  Scriptures  enjoin  holiness.  A  command  is  equivalent  to  a  promise.  As 
explicitly  as  words  can  make  it,  holiness  is  presented  as  our  duty.  Our  Heav- 
enly Father  does  not  command  us  to  do  or  to  be  what  we  cannot.  "Thou  shalt 
love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart,  and  with  all  thy  soul,  and  with  all  thy 
mind,  and  with  all  thy  strength,  and  thy  neighbor  as  thyself" 

''  Be  ye  holy,  for  I  am  holy." 

"  Follow  peace  with  all  men,  and  holiness,  without  which  no  man  shall  see 
the  Lord." 

The  Scriptures  present  it  before  the  mind  in  earnest  and  pointed  exhortation. 
"Wherefore  come  out  from  among  them,  and  be  ye  separate,  saith  the  Lord,  and 
touch  not  the  unclean  thing  ;  and  I  will  receive  you,  and  be  a  Father  unto  you, 
and  ye  shall  be.  my  sons  and  daughters,  saith  the  Lord  Almighty.  Having 
therefore,  these  promises,  dearly  beloved,  let  us  cleanse  ourselves  from  all  filthi- 
ness  of  the  flesh  and  spirit,  perfecting  holiness  in  the  fear  of  God." 

It  is  also  inculcated  by  the  promises.  These  promises  are  numerous.  We 
select  a  few  from  the  great  multitudes — "Then  will  I  sprinkle  clean  water  upon 
you,  and  ye  shall  be  clean  ;  from  all  your  filthiness,  and  from  all  your  idols,  will 
I  cleanse  you." 

"  I  will  give  them  a  heart  to  know  me,  that  I  am  the  Lord  ;  and  they  shall 
be  my  people,  and  I  will  be  their  God:  for  they  shall  return  unto  me  with 
their  whole  heart.  After  those  days,  saith  the  Lord,  I  will  put  my  law  in  their 
inward  parts,  and  write  it  in  their  hearts  ;  and  will  be  their  God  and  they  shall 
be  my  people." 

"  Blessed  are  the  pure  in  heart,  for  they  shall  see  God." 

It  is  presented  likewise  as  the  object  of  earnest  and  prayerful  desire.  "  For 
this  cause  I  bow  my  knees  unto  the  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  of  whom 
the  whole  family  in  heaven  and  earth  is  named,  that  he  would  grant  you,  ac- 
cording to  the  riches  of  his  glory,  to  be  strengthened  with  might  by  his  Spirit 
in  the  inner  man  ;  that  Christ  may  dwell  in  your  hearts  by  faith ;  that  ye  being 
rooted  and  grounded  in  love,  may  be  able  to  comprehend  with  all  the  saints  what 


112  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

is  the  breadth,  and  length,  and  depth,  and  height  ;  and  to  know  the  love  of 
Christ,  which  passeth  knowledge,  that  ye  might  be  filled  with  all  the  fullness  of 
God.  Now  unto  him  that  is  able  to  do  exceeding  abundantly  above  all  that  we 
ask  or  think,  according  to  the  power  that  worketh  in  us,  unto  him  be  glory  iu 
the  Church  by  Christ  Jesus,  throughout  all  ages,  world  without  end.     Amen." 

"Now  the  God  of  Peace,  that  brought  again  from  the  dead  our  Lord  Jesus, 
that  great  Shepherd  of  the  sheep,  through  the  blood  of  the  everlasting  cove- 
nant, make  you  perfect  in  every  good  work  to  do  his  will,  working  in  you  that 
which  is  pleasing  in  his  sight,  through  Jesus  Christ." 

"  And  the  very  God  of  peace  sanctify  you  wholly :  and  I  pray  God,  your 
whole  spirit,  and  soul,  and  body,  be  preserved  blameless  unto  the  coming  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.     Faithful   is  he  that  calleth  you,  who  also  will  do  it." 

It  is  proclaimed  in  the  most  explicit  announcements  of  Scripture.  "  Bless- 
ed be  the  Lord  God  of  Israel :  for  he  hath  raised  up  a  horn  of  salvation  for 
us,  as  he  spake  by  the  mouth  of  his  holy  prophets,  that  we,  being  delivered 
out  of  the  hands  qf  our  enemies,  might  serve  him  without  fear,  in  holiness 
and  righteousness  before  him,  all  the  days  of  our  life." 

"  If  we  walk  in  the  light,  as  he  is  in  the  light,  we  have  fellowship  one  with 
another,  and  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  his  Son  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin.  If 
we  confess  our  sins,  he  is  faithful  and  just  to  forgive  us  our  sins,  and  to 
cleanse  us  from  all  unrighteousness." 

"  But  now  being  made  free  from  sin.  and  become  servants  to  God,  ye  have 
your  fruit  unto  holiness,  and  the  end  everlasting  life." 

"I  am  crucified  with  Christ:  nevertheless,  I  live  ;  yet  not  I,  but  Christ 
liveth  in  me:  and  the  life  which  I  now  live  in  the  flesh,  I  live  by  the  faith 
of  the  Son  of  God." 

"  For  I  am  jealous  over  you  with  godly  jealousy :  for  I  have  espoused  you 
to  one  husband  that  I  may  present  you  as  a  chaste  virgin  to  Christ." 

A  multitude  of  similar  passages  might  be  quoted.  These  are  ample  for 
our  purpose.     They  clearly  inculcate  the  doctrine  under  consideration. 

6.  We  must  admit  some  of  these  quotations  are  claimed  not  to  contain  the 
ideas  we  deduce  from  them.  We  have  no  authorative  expounder  of  the 
Scriptures.  Yet  we  are  not  without  a  reliable  and  safe  exposition  of  the 
word. 

7.  These  passages  should  be  interpreted  in  view  of  the  teaching  and  ex- 
perience of  many,  and  the  aspirations  of  all.  The  most  devout,  and  there- 
fore the  most  reliable  expositors  of  holy  writ,  have  understood  the  doctrine 
of  purity  to  be  inculcated  by  these  quotations.  Some  in  whom  we  all  have 
confidence,  declare  their  experience  of  this  glorious  truth.  All  Christians  de- 
sire such  a  state, — and  this  desire  is  increased  as  men  enhance  and  improve. 
These  considerations  combined,  ought  to  be  of  great  weight  with  us. 

8.  Some  of  the  declarations  made  by  these  eminent  men  to  whom  we  look 
up  for  instruction,  we  may  profitably  review. 

Ignatius,  one  of  the  apostolic  fathers,  in  an  epistle  to  the  Ephesians,  says  : 
'•  Nothing  is  better  than  peace,  whereby  all  war  is  destroyed,  both  of  things 
in  heaven  and  things  on  earth.  Nothing  of  this  is  hid  from  you,  if  ye  have 
perfect  faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  and  love,  which  are  the  beginning  and  the  end 
of  life;  faith  is  the  beginning,  love  the  end;  and  both  being  joined  in  one, 
are  of  God.  All  other  things  pertaining  to  perfect  holiness  follow.  For  no 
man  that  hath  faith  sinneth ;  and  none  that  hath  love  hatcth  any  man." 


A    MODERN   PENTECOST.  113 

Irenseus,  an  emioent  father  of  the  second  century,  makes  the  following 
pointed  observations  :  "  The  apostle  explaining  himself  in  his  first  epistle  to 
the  Thessalonians,  fifth  chapter,  exhibited  i\xe  ijerfect  and  spiritual  salvation 
of  man,  sajing,  '  But  the  God  of  peace  sanctify  you  perfectly;  that  your 
soul,  body,  and  spirit,  may  be  preserved  without  fault  to  the  coming  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.'  IIow  then,  indeed,  did  he  have  the  cause  in  these  three,  • 
(that  is  to  pray  for  the  entire  and  perfect  preservation  of  soul,  body,  and 
spirit,  to  the  coming  of  the  Lord,)  unless  he  knew  the  common  salvation  of 
these  was  the  renovation  of  the  whole  three  ?  Wherefore  he  calls  those  per- 
fect who  present  the  three  faultless  to  the  Lord.  Therefore  those  are 
perfect  who  have  the  spirit  and  perseverance  of  God,  and  have  preserved  their 
souls  and  bodies  without  fault." 

Macarius,  a  member  of  the  celebrat^jd  council  of  Nice,  is  veiy  clear  in  his 
statement  of  the  doctrine.  In  a  treatise  upon  this  subject  he  says :  "  What, 
then,  is  that  '  perfect  will  of  "tjod,'  to  which  the  apostle  calls  and  exhorts  every 
one  of  us  to  attain?  It  is  perfect  j^urity  from  siii,  freedom  from  all  shamefnl 
passions,  and  the  assumption  of  perfect  virtue ;  that  is,  the  purification  of  the 
heart  by  the  plenary  and  experimental  communion  of  the  perfect  and  divine 
Spirit.  To  those  who  say  it  is  impossible  to  attain  to  perfection,  and  the  final 
and  complete  subjugation  of  the  passions,  or  to  acquire  a  full  participation  of 
the  good  Spirit,  we  must  oppose  the  testimony  of  the  divine  Scriptures ;  and 
prove  to  them  that  they  are  ignorant  and  speak  both  falsely  and  presumptu- 
ously." 

Numerous  other  authorities  might  be  cited  connecting  these  times  of  remote 
antiquity  with  the  present,  and  showing  that  the  idea  or  doctrine  has  been  held 
in  all  ages  by  the  Church  of  Christ.  Very  frequently  there  has  been  great  am- 
biguity, and  a  great  admixture  of  error,  and  many  views  have  been  advanced 
which  we  could  not  sustain.  We  quote  now  a  few  authorities  of  modern 
times. 

Luther  learned  first  the  doctrine  of  justification  by  faith,  but  for  a  time  sought 
sanctification  by  works.  As  he  ascended  the  holy  stairway  at  Rome  the  word 
came  to  him,  which  before  had  struck  light  into  his  soul  — "  The  just  shall  live 
hi/  faith."  The  great  leading  dogma  of  the  Reformation  was  undoubtedly  justi- 
fication by  faith.  That  point  was  made  very  prominent  and  clear.  It  remained, 
however,  for  the  revival  of  evangelism  under  those  reformers  who  came  after 
Luther,  to  bring  out  the  doctrine  of  Christian  purity. 

Robert  Bai'clay  informs  us  concerning  the  views  held  by  the  Society  of 
Friends.  The  testimony  of  such  a  quiet  and  unpretending  body  of  Christians, 
is  of  exceeding  great  value.  He  says:  "In  whom  this  holy  and  pure  birth  is 
fully  brought  forth,  the  body  of  death  and  sin  comes  to  be  crucified  and  re- 
moved, and  their  hearts  united  and  subjected  to  the  truth,  so  as  not  to  obey  any 
suggestion  or  temptation  of  the  evil  One,  but  to  be  free  from  actual  sinning,  and 
transgressing  of  the  law  of  God,  and  in  that  respect  perfect.  Yet  doth  this  per- 
fection still  admit  of  growth ;  and  there  remaineth  a  possibility  of  sinning,  where 
the  mind  doth  not  most  diligently  and  watchfully  attend  unto  the  Lord." 

Our  own  denominational  testimony  has  always  been  very  decided  and  un- 
equivocal. Wesley,  Fletcher,  Watson,  Clark,  Bramwell,  Asbury,  Abbott,  Bed- 
ding, Hamline,  Bangs,  Fisk,  and  Olin,  among  our  honored  dead,  and  Peck, 
Foster,  Wood,  McDonald,  and  Boynton,  of  living  authorities,  have  all  spoken 

8 


114  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

in  terms  tliat  cannot  be  easily  misunderstood.  Their  testimony  and  teaching 
have  been  amply  confirmed  in  the  lite  and  experience  of  Hester  Ann  Rodgers 
and  Mrs.  Fletcher,  and  the  world  wide  spread  writings  of  Mrs.  Palmer.  This 
truth  indeed  is  sung  in  our  hymns,  recited  in  our  catechisms,  and  reiterated  in 
our  rituals,  and  illustrated  in  our  biographies,  and  the  only  wonder  is  that  any 
among  us  ever  doubted  it. 

John  Wesley  says:  "Scriptural  holiness  is  the  image  of  God;  the  mind  that 
was  in  Christ;  the  love  of  God  and  man  ;  lowliness,  gentleness,  temperance, 
patience,  chastity." 

"  What,  then,  is  that  holiness  which  is  the  true  Avedding  garment,  the  only 
qualification  for  glory?  '  In  Jesus  Christ'  (that  is  according  to  the  Christian  insti- 
tution, whatever  be  the  case  of  the  heathen  world)  '  neither  circumcision  availeth 
anything,  nor  uncircumcision ;  but  a  new  creation  ;  the  renewal  of  the  soul  in 
the  image  of  God  wherein  it  was  created.  In  Jesus  Christ  neither  circumcis- 
ion availeth  anything,  nor  uncircumcision,  but  faith  that  worketh  by  love.  It 
first,  through  the  energy  of  God,  worketh  love  to  God  and  all  mankind  ;  and  by 
this  love,  every  holy  and  heavenly  temper.  In  particular,  lowliness,  meekness, 
gentleness,  temperance  and  long  suffering.  '  It  is  neither  circumcision' — the 
attending  on  all  the  Christian  ordinances,  '  nor  uncircumcision, — the  fulfilling 
of  all  heathen  morality,  but  keeping  the  commandments  of  God — particularly 
those  '  'J'hou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart,  and  thy  neighbor 
as  thyself.'  In  a  word,  holiness  is  the  having  the  mind  that  teas  in  Christ, 
and  the  valkinq  as  Christ  ivalked.^'  This  plain  statement  puts  the  question  of 
Mr.  "Wesley's  views  beyond  all  reasonable  doubt. 

Fletcher  was  equally  pointed  and  explicit.  His  argument  in  support  of  this 
doctrine  has  never  been  equalled — never  answered. 

Watson,  eminent  for  his  theological  lore,  said  :  "  Regeneration,  we  have  seen, 
is  concomitant  with  justification,  but  the  apostles  in  addressing  the  body  of 
believers  in  the  churches  to  whom  they  wrote  their  epistles,  set  before  them, 
both  in  the  prayers  they  offer  in  their  behalf,  and  in  the  exhortations  they  ad- 
minister, a  still  higher  degree  of  deliverance  from  sin,  as  well  as  a  high  growth 
in  Christian  virtues.  Two  passages  only  need  be  quoted  to  prove  this:  1  Thes. 
5:  23 — '  And  the  very  God  of  peace  sanctify  you  wholly  :  and  I  pray  God  your 
whole  spirit,  and  soul,  and  body,  be  preserved  blameless  unto  the  coming  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Chi-ist.'  2  Cor.  7:  1 — '  Having  these  promises,  dearly  beloved, 
let  us  cleanse  ourselves  from  all  filthiness  of  the  flesh  and  spirit,  perfecting  holi- 
ness io  the  fear  of  God.'  In  both  these  passages,  deliverance  from  sin  is  the 
subject  spoken  of;  and  the  prayer  in  one  instance,  and  the  exhortation  in  the 
other,  goes  to  the  extent  of  the  entire  -sanctification  of  the  '  soul '  and  '  spirit,' 
as  well  as  of  the  '  flesh  '  or  'body  '  from  all  sin  ;  by  AYhich  can  only  be  meant 
our  complete  deliverance  from  all  spiritual  pollution,  all  inward  depravation  of 
the  heart,  as  well  as  that  which,  expressing  itself  outwardly  by  the  indulgence 
of  the  senses,  is  called  filthiness  of  flesh  and  spirit." 

I)r.  Adam  Clark  once  observed:  "As  to  the  words  which  you  quote  as  mine, 
I  totally  disclaim  them.  I  never  said — I  never  intended  to  say  them  :  J  be- 
lieve pistifiication  and  sanctifiration  to  he  vu'de/i/  distinct  icorks.  I  liave 
been  twenty-three  years  a  traveling  preacher,  and  have  been  acquainted  witli 
8omc  thousands  of  Christians  during  that  time,  who  wore  in  different  states  of 
grace ;  and  I  never  to  my  knowledge,  met  with  a  single  instance  where  God 
both  justified  and  sanctified  at  the   same   time.     I  have  heard  of  such,  but  I 


A    MODERN   PENTECOST.  115 

never  saw  them,  and  doubt  whether  any  such  ever  existed.  T  have  known  mul- 
titudes who  were  justified  according  to  the  definition  which  you  give  of  that 
sacred  work  ;  and  I  have  known  many  who  were  sanctified  in  the  sense  in  which 
you  use  that  word,  Avhich  I  beheve  to  be  quite  correct.  But  all  these  I  have 
found  were  brought  into  these  different  states  at  separate  times ;  having  pre- 
viously received  a  deep  conviction  of  the  need  of  pardon,  and  afterward  of  ho- 
liness of  heart.  If  sanctification  be  taken  in  the  sense  in  which  it  is  frequently 
used  in  the  Old  Testament — to  separate — to  set  apart  for  sacred  u,se — then  it 
implies  a  state  lower  than  that  of  justification — such  a  state  as  that  of  a  thorough 
penitent,  who,  when  he  is  convinced  of  sin,  separates  himself  from  all  unright^ 
eousness,  and  consecrates  himself  to  God.  But  when  I  speak  of  the  purifica- 
tion of  the  heart,  or  doctrine  of  Christian  perfection,  I  use  sanctification  in  the 
sense  in  which  it  has  generally  been  understood  among  the  Methodists." 

8.  Our  catechetical  and  ritualistic  teaching  is  also  in  the  same  direction. 
Of  ritualism  we  are  fortunate  in  having  but  little.  This  little,  however, 
bears  decisive  testimony  to  the  doctrine.  In  the  baptismal  service  for  adults 
the  officiating  minister  uses  this  prayer  :  "0  merciful  God,  grant  that  all 
carnal  affections  may  die  in  these  persons,  and  that  all  things  belonging  to 
the  Spirit  may  live  and  grow  in  them.  Grant  that  they  may  have  power  and 
strength  to  have  victory,  and  triumph  against  the  devil,  the  world,  and  the 
flesh." 

In  the  sacramental  service  we  have  the  following:  "Almighty  God,  unto 
whom  all  hearts  are  open,  all  desires  known,  and  frrm  whom  no  secrets  are 
hid,  cleanse  the  thoughts  of  our  hearts  by  the  inspirat  on  of  thy  Holy  Spirit, 
that  we  may  perfectly  love  thee,  and  worthily  magnify  thy  holy  name,  through 
Jesus  Christ  our  Lord." 

In  admitting  any  one  to  the  itinerant  ministry,  we  ask  the  following  ques- 
tions :  "  Have  you  faith  in  Christ  ?  Are  you  going  on  to  perfection  ?  Dj 
you  expect  to  be  made  perfect  in  love  in  this  life  ?  Are  you  groaning  after 
it."     Here  is  a  clear  recognition  of  the  doctrine  and  experience  we  speak  of. 

9.  Oar  catechism  gives  a  most  explicit  statement  of  this  truth.  "  Ques- 
tion :  What  are  the  results  of  saving  faith  ?  Answer.  Jmtijication^regm- 
■eration,  and  sanctification.  Justification  is  that  act  of  God's  free  grace  in 
which  he  pardons  our  sins,  and  accepts  us  as  righteous  in  his  sight,  for  the 
sake  of  Christ.  Regeneration  is  the  new  birth  of  the  soul  in  the  image  of 
tJhrist,  whereby  we  become  the  children  of  God;  and  sanctification  is  that 
act  of  divine  grace  whereby  we  are  made  holi/.  It  is  the  privilege  of  every 
behever  to  be  wholly  sanctified,  and  to  love  God  with  all  his  heart  iu  the  present 
life ;  but  at  every  stage  of  Christian  experience  there  is  danger  of  falling 

'from  grace,which  danger  is  to  be  guarded  against  by  watchfulness  and  prayer 
and  a  life  of  faith  in  the  Son  of  God  " 

Again  it  is  asked:  "  What  other  term  is  used  to  signify  the  great  change 
which  every  sinner  must  experience  in  order  to  enter  heaven  ?  Ans.  Con- 
version, which,  implying  a  complete  renewal  of  heart  and  life,  comprehends 
justification,  regeneration  and  adoption." 

"  Quest.  When  is  sanctification  begun  ?  Ans.  In  regeneration,  by 
which  we  receive  power  to  grow  in  grace  and  in  the  knowledge  of  Christ, 
and  to  live  in  the  exercise  of  inward  aud  outward  holiness. 

"  Qaest.  What  is  entire  santification  ?  Ans.  The  state  of  being  entirely 
cleansed  from  sin,  so  as  to  love  God  with  all  our  heart,  an  1  mind,  and  sjui, 
uod  strength,  and  our  neighbor  as  ourselves 


116  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

"  Quest.  Should  Christians,  who  have  attained  this  high  state  of  grace, 
pause  in  their  career  as  though  there  were  no  further  improvement?  Ans. 
They  should  still  grow  in  hnowledge  and  in  grace,  and  improve  /aster  than 
before." 

10.  It  is  also  announced  in  our  hymns  of  praise.  We  may  safely  assume 
the  orthodoxy  of  their  doctrinal  teaching.  Most  certainly  devotional  theol- 
ogy is  more  directly  suggested  by  divine  impulse  and  illumination  than  mere 
dogmatism.  We  have  hymns  on  repentance — on  justification — and  on  sanc- 
tification — formerly  "  full  redemption."  These  hymns  have  much  to  do  with 
forming  our  religious  ideas — even  more  perhaps  than  our  systematic  divinity. 
This  is  obviously  the  fact.  One  said,  ''  I  care  not  who  makes  the  laws,  if 
they  permit  me  to  make  the  songs  of  the  people."  This  axiom  has  its  appli- 
cation here: 

*•  Lord  I  believe  a  rest  remains, 

To  all  thy  people  known  ; 
A  rest  where  pure  enjoyment  reigns, 
And  thou  art  loved  alone." 

"  Saviour  of  the  sin-sick  soul, 
Give  me  faith  to  make  me  whole  ; 
Finish  thy  great  work  of  grace — 
Cut  it  short  in  righteousness. 
Speak  the  second  time — be  clean ! 
Take  away  my  inbred  sin ; 
Every  stumbling  block  remove  ; 
Cast  it  out  by  perfect  love." 

"Oh  for  a  heart  to  praise  my  God— 

A  heart  from  sin  set  free  ; 
A  heart  that  always  feels  thy  blood, 

So  freely  spilt  for  me." 

•'  Come,  0  my  God,  the  promise  seal, 

This  mountain,  sin,  remove; 
Now  in  my  waiting  soul  reveal 

The  virtue  of  thy  love. 
I  want  thy  life— thy  purity— 

Thy  righteousness  brought  in: 
I  ask,  desire,  and  trust  in  thee, 

To  be  redeemed  from  sin." 

11.  Our  history  and  biography  are  full  of  this  glorious  truth.  Wesley, 
Fletcher,  Clarke,  Bramwell,  Asbury,  Whatcoat,  Abbott,  and  a  host  of  others, 
have  given  their  testimony,  and  are  held  up  before  us  as  "  epistles"  to  be  "  read 
and  known  of  all  men." 

II.    How    MAY   THIS   BLESSING   BE    OBTAINED? 

1.  An  all-important  inquiry.     Many  err  at  this  point. 

2.  Wc  must,  to  start  with,  assume  it  is  attainable.  It  will  be  of  no  practical 
benefit  to  seek  it  unless  we  believe  it  attainable. 

3.  Next,  we  must  deem  it  neces,sary  because  practicable.  Because  we  may 
be,  therefore  we  ought  to  be  holy.  Being  our  ])rivilege  it  also  becomes  our 
duty.  A  low  estimate  of  a  state  of  justification  has  led  many  to  suppose  that 
whether  they  will  go  forward  is  a  matter  that  may  be  determined  without  invol- 
ving any  radical  consequences.  But  if  we  fail  to  advance  we  must  retrograde. 
If  we  do  not  obtain  more,  we  lose  what  we  have. 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  117 

4.  We  must  remember  it  is  God's  work  in  us.  It  is  no  ceremonial  washing 
— no  mere  external  change — nor  a  modification  of  our  habits;  but  a  fundamentd 
— a  thorough,  radical  revolution  wrought  in  us  by  the  cleansing  power  of  the 
Holy  Ghost.  We  are  saved  "  hi/  grace."  Holiness  is  salvation.  Paul  says  in 
2  Thess.  2:  13 — "But  we  are  bound  to  give  thanks  always  to  God  for  you, 
brethren  beloved  of  the  Lord,  because  God  hath  from  the  beginning  chosen  you 
to  salvation  through  sanctification  of  the  Spirit  and  belief  of  the  truth." 

Peter  in  his  first  P^pistle  1st  chapter  2d  verse,  speaks  of  believers  as  "  Elect 
according  to  the  foreknowledge  of  God  the  Father,  through  sanctification  of  the 
Spirit,  unto  obedience  and  sprinkling  of  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ."  The  Holy 
Ghost  is  our  sanctifier. 

5.  It  being  the  work  of  divine  power,  it  may  be  accomplished  in  an  instant. 
How  soon  and  quickly  this  work  may  be  done,  in  a  large  measure,  depends  on 
the  condition  of  mind  of  those  who  desire  it.  The  question  has  been  often 
asked,  "  Is  this  work  gradual  or  instantaneous?"  It  has  been  well  answered, 
'<  Loth."  Yet  in  seeking  after  it  we  must  keep  it  before  our  minds  as  that 
which  may  come  at  any  moment.       We  may  look  for  it  every  momenf. 

John  Wesley,  referring  to  this  point,  says :  "  Not  trusting  to  the  testimony 
of  others,  I  carefully  examined  most  of  these  myself;  and  every  one  (after  the 
most  careful  inquiry,  I  have  not  found  one  exception  either  in  Great  Britain  or 
Ireland),  has  declared  that  his  deliverance  from  sin  loas  instantaneous  ;  that  the 
change  was  wrought  in  a  moment.  Had  half  of  these,  or  one-third,  or  one  in 
twenty  declared  it  was  gradually  wrought  in  them,  I  should  have  believed  this 
with  regard  to  them,  and  thought  that  some  were  gradually  sanctified,  and  some 
instantaneously.  But  as  I  have  not  found  in  so  long  a  space  of  time  a  single 
person  speaking  thus ;  as  all  who  believe  they  are  sanctified,  declare  with  one 
voice,  that  the  change  was  wrought  in  a  moment.,  I  cannot  but  believe  that 
santification  is  commonly.,  if  not  always,  an  instantaneous  uork." 

Dr.  Clarke  says  :  "  Every  penitent  is  exhorted  to  believe  on  the  Lord 
Jesus,  that  he  may  receive  remission  of  sins.  He  does  not,  he  cannot,  un- 
derstand that  the  blessing  thus  promised  is  not  to  be  received  to-day,  but  at 
some  future  time.  In  like  manner,  to  every  believer  the  new  heart  and  right 
spirit  are  oifered  in  the  present  moment,  that  they  may  in  that  moment  be 
received.  For  as  the  work  of  cleansing  and  renewing  the  heart  is  the  work 
of  God,  his  almighty  power  can  perform  it  in  a  moment,  in  the  twinkling  of 
an  eye.  And  as  it  is  our  duty  to  love  God  with  all  our  heart,  and  we  cannot 
do  this  until  he  cleanse  our  hearts, — consequently  he  is  ready  to  do  it  this 
moment;  because  he  wills  that  we  should  in  this  moment  love  him.  There- 
fore we  may  justly  say,  '  Now  is  the  accepted  time  ;  now  is  the  day  of  salva 
tion.'  He  who  in  the  beginning  caused  light  in  a  moment  to  shine  out  of 
darkness,  can  in  a  moment  shine  into  our  hearts,  and  give  us  to  see  the  light 
of  his  glory  in  the  face  of  Jesus  Christ.  This  moment,  therefore,  we  may 
be  emptied  of  sin,  filled  with  holiness,  and  become  truly  happy." 

Mr.  Fletcher  in  presenting  this  point,  makes  use  of  the  following  eloquent 
and  earnest  language  :  "  If  a  momentary  display  of  Christ's  bodily  glory, 
could  in  an  instant  turn  Saul,  the  blaspheming  bloody  persecutor,  into  Paul, 
the  praying  gentle  apostle;  if  a  sudden  sight  of  Christ's  hands  could  in  a 
moment  root  from  Thomas'  heart  that  detestable  resolution,  '  I  will  not  be- 
lieve,' and  produce  that  deep  confession  of  faith,  '  My  Lord  and  my  God,' 
whit   cannot  the  display  of  Christ's  spiritual  glory  operate  in  a  believing  soul, 


118  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

to  which  he  manifests  himself  'according  to  that  power  whereby  he  is  ab'e 
to  subdue  all  things  to  himself?'  Again,  if  Christ's  body  could  in  :;n  in- 
stant become  so  glorious  on  the  Mount  that  his  very  garments  partook  of  the 
sudden  irradiation,  became  not  only  free  from  every  spot,  but  also  '  white  as 
the  light,  shining  exceeding  white  as  snow,  so  as  no  fuller  on  the  earth  could 
whiten  them;'  and  if  our  bodies  shall  be  changed,  if  this  corruptible  shall 
put  on  incorruption,  and  if  this  mortal  shall  put  on  immortality,  '  in  a  mo- 
ment, in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye'  why  may  not  our  believing  souls,  when  they 
submit  to  God's  terms,  be  fully  changed,  fully  turned  from  the  power  of  Sa- 
tan unto  God  ?  When  the  Holy  Ghost  says,  '  Now  is  the  day  of  salvation,' 
does  he  exclude  salvation  from  heart  iniquity  ?  If  Christ  now  deserves  fully 
the  name  of  Jesus,  because  he  fully  saves  his  people  from  their  sins ;  and  if 
now  the  Gospel  trumpet  sounds,  and  sinners  arise  from  the  dead — wht/ 
should  ice  not^  upon  the  performance  of  the  condition,  he  changed  in  a  mo- 
ment from  indwelling  sin  to  indwelling  holiriess?  Why  should  we  not  pass 
in  the  txoinkling  of  an  eye,  or  in  a  short  time,  from  indwelling  death  to  in- 
dwelling life  ?  " 

6.  This  work  God  will  accomplish  for  us  when  we  believe.  The  doctrine  of 
justification  by  faith  has  become  the  prevailing  idea  of  reformed  Christianity. 
Many,  however,  seem  to  think  we  are  to  be  sanctified  by  growth — develop- 
ment— experience,  &c.  They  forget,  however,  that  as  we  '•  put  on  Christ,  bO 
must  we  walk  in  him  " — and  that  as  the  first  step  was  taken  in  the  way,  so 
must  all  subsequent  advance  be  made.  Wesley  says:  "I  have  continually 
testified  (for  these  five  and  twenty  years)  in  private  and  in  public,  that  we 
are  sanctified  as  well  as  justified  by  faith  ;  and  indeed  the  one  of  those  great 
truths  does  exceedingly  illustrate  the  other.  Exactly  as  we  are  justified  by 
faiih,  sowe  are  sanctified  by  faith.  Faith  is  the  condition,  and  the  only 
condition  of  sanctification,  exactly  as  it  is  of  justification.  "No  man  is  sancti- 
fied until  he  believes;  every  man,  when  he  believes,  is  sanctified." 

This  faith  implies  implicit  confidence  in  the  word  of  God.  It  literally  takes 
God  at  his  word — "  What  things  soever  ye  desire  when  ye  pray, believe  that  ye 
receive  them,  and  ye  shall  have  them." 

''  And  this  is  the  confidence  that  we  have  in  him,  that,  if  we  ask  anything 
according  to  his  will,  he  heareth  us :  and  if  we  know  that  he  hear  us,  whatso- 
ever we  ask,  we  know  that  we  have  the  petitions  we  desired  of  him."  This  is 
truly  great  confidence  that  we  know  he  "  heareth  us"  when  we  "  ask." 

7.  In  exercising  this  faith  we  believe  God  has  promised  it,  that  he  is  able 
and  willing  to  fulfill  his  promise,  that  he  is  able  and  willingto  do  it  now,  and  finally 
that  he  does  it. 

8.  To  get  to  this  point  we  must  become  very  candid.  The  subject  is  one  con- 
cerning which  wo  cannot  afford  to  urge  captious  objections.  We  must,  there- 
fore, as  far  as  possible,  avoid  all  mere  theorizing,  and  abandon  ourselves  com- 
pletely to  divine  guidance  and  control.  Our  pride  and  self-will  must  be  yielded 
— and  in  the  deepest  humiliation  before  God,  wc  must  cry  for  wisdom  and 
help. 

t).  We  must  become  docile  and  childlike.  Be  willing  to  learn  of  any,  even 
the  most  feeble  and  unskillful.  Some  desire  the  attention  and  aid  of  persons 
who  are  prominent.  But  we  may  learn  even  of  God's  little  ones — [instance 
cited  here  of  Bro.  Belden  and  the  servant  girl.] 


A    MODERN    PENTECOST.  119 

10.  Let  the  consecration  be  perfect.  Put  all  "  on  the  altar."  Keep  nothing 
back.  Examine  carefully  and  candidly  your  heart.  Thus  ascertain  whether 
your  consecration  is  entire.  Many  wonder  why  they  cannot  believe.  They 
may  cease  to  wonder  when  they  learn  they  have  not  fully  consecrated  them- 
selves. 

11.  Cry  day  and  night  for  the  blessing.  Be  very  much  in  earnest — face  op- 
position, and  welcome  odium. 

12.  Keep  looking  unto  Jesus,  and  expect  the  blessing  every  moment.  Don't 
dwell  on  your  unworthiness  and  unfaithfulness.  This  may  produce  great  hu- 
miliation, and  ultimately  despair.  But  think  of  Christ's  atonement  and  fullness, 
and  rest  there. 


The  discourse  of  Bro.  Inskip,  as  given  above,  when  compared  with  the  fervor 
and  liberty  which  characterized  its  delivery,  will  seem  but  an  outline  sketch. 
At  every  point  he  pressed  home  the  truth  in  application,  and  his  disgressions 
were  the  really  eloquent  and  effective  passages  of  the  sermon.  With  a  voice 
that  reached  the  ears  and  stirred  the  hearts  of  persons  in  the  remote  circles  of 
the  audience,  and  attended  by  an  unction  which  made  the  word  a  "savor  of 
life,"  eternity  alone  will  reveal  the  good  accomplished.  An  appeal  at  the  close, 
for  present  acceptance  of  the  fullness  of  Christ,  and  trust  in  iiim  for  the  im- 
mediate accomplishment  of  the  work  of  entire  sanctifi cation,  elicited  a  hearty 
response  from,  perhaps,  five  hundred  souls.  Others  bowed  in  prayer,  and  ere 
long  were  baptized  with  the  Holy  Ghost  and  fire  sent  down  from  heaven.  Im- 
mediate results  are  always  looked  for  in  these  ministrations,  and  always  reached. 
I'ersons,  while  simply  listening  to  the  gospel  word,  as  in  olden  times,  believe 
and  are  blessed ;  surrender,  and  are  sanctified ;  thus  attesting  the  oft-repeated 
argument  that  the  work  is  instantaneously  wrought,  as  is  the  conversion  of  a 
soul ;  and  both  because  it  is  by  simple  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  If  the 
reader  will  exercise  this  faith,  after  the  whole  theory  has  been  made  so  clear, 
God  will  bless  the  word,  and  enable  the  trusting  heart  to  rejoice  in  His  salva- 
tion. 


SABBzVTH  AFTERNOOX. 

Notwithstanding  the  restriction  placed  upon  Sunday  travel,  by  prevent- 
ing excursion  trains,  and  the  closing  of  all  the  modes  of  access  to  the  en- 
campment, that  it  might  be  as  quiet  and  orderly  as  "  the  house  of  God," 
during  the  holy  hours  of  the  Lord's  day  a  very  large  accession  to  the  usual 
congregation  was  plainly  perceptible.  People  from  the  adjacent  neighbor- 
hood, and  many  who  had  procured  lodging  in  the  village  and  farm  houses 
near  the  ground,  on  coming  to  the  gates  and  finding  them  locked,  persevered 
so  far  as  to  get  inside  at  points  where  pickets  bad   been  removed    from  the 


120  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL    CAlMP-MEETINO. 

fence.  There  being  nothing  in  the  "  Rules "  which  prevented  ingress  by 
this  means,  nobody  interfered,  as  nobody,  it  was  safely  presumed,  attempted 
to  reach  the  enclosure,  except  those  very  much  in  earnest  to  enjoy  the  meet- 
ing. The  restive  crowd  were  kept  at  bay,  and  the  Sabbath  services  were  not 
only  free  from  interruption,  but  crowned  with  the  most  happy  consequences. 


THE  SKIRMISH  LINE. 

Immediately  after  the  morning  congregation  was  dismissed,  and  while  the 
great  thrilling  truths  which  had  been  announced  in  the  sermon  were  fresh 
in  the  general  mind,  several  earnest  men  were  moved  to  "  cry  aloud  and 
spare  not,"  wherever  they  found  an  unconverted  fellow  being. 

Hearing  some  lively  singing  outside  the  tents,  we  walked  around  in  that 
direction,  and  under  a  shady  oak  we  found  Captain  Russell,  of  New  York 
City,  a  small  Testament  in  his  hand,  his  hat  thrown  on  the  ground,  his  face 
beaming  with  benevolence,  and  to  the  listening  scores  in  a  circle  around  him, 
he  was  telling  the  "  Old,  old,  story,"  of  how  Jesus  came  to  save  sinners;  how 
he  himself  had  been  rescued  from  moral  shipwreck  ;  how,  among  the  aban- 
doned in  vice  and  shame,  he  had  witnessed  the  mighty  works  of  God,  trans- 
forming them  from  the  sinks  of  iniquity  to  a  position  of  respectability  and 
religious  peace. 

The  Captain  was  in  earnest ;  so  were  the  brethren  who  stood  by  him  as  his 
body  guard — or,  as  he  would  call  them,  his  "  mates" — Bros.  Smith,  Gray, 
Theall,  McPherson  and  others,  who  generally  tent  together,  and  spend  the 
entire  season  in  going  from  one  camp  to  another  to  work  for  Jesus.  Every 
man  of  them  being  a  "  monument  of  mercy,"  and  saved  from  the  dissipa- 
tions of  an  ungodly  life,  they  choose  this  way  to  spend  their  season  of  recre- 
ation, and  say  it  costs  them  less  than  when  they  were  the  devotees  of 
fashionable  folly. 

Bro.  Gray  leads  the  singing.  His  register  of  pieces  is  peculiar.  Throw- 
ing, his  own  soul  into  the  words  and  music,  a  crowd  will  gather,  hearts  will 
melt,  and  tears  flow,  believers  shout,  sinners  fall,  and  victory  crown  the  day. 

Captain  Russell  did  good  service  on  this  occasion,  by  preaching  a  saving 
gospel  to  the   "  outsiders." 

In  another  place  we  came  upon  a  preacher  named  Post,  from  Central  New 
York,  exhorting  as  for  life.  His  audience  consisted  of  three  young  men, 
who  looked  the  picture  of  emb.-irrassment,  and  would  have  fled  but  that  he 
held  them  fas.t,  to  plead  with  them  to  give  God  their  hearts  to-day. 

Amanda  Smith,  at  another  point,  was  applying  the  morning  sermon  to 
some  young  people,  and  tolling  them,  in  the  language  of  divine  authority, 
"  Now  is  the  accepted  time,  and  behold,  now  is  the  day  of  salvation. " 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  121 

In  many  of  the  tents,  as  the  signal  for  private  prayer  was  given,  all  knelt 
in  silent  meditation  for  some  moments  ;  then  one  voice  rose  in  supplication, 
waxed  strong  in  faith,  and  naming  every  individual  in  the  company  present, 
implored  a  blessing  upon  each  ;  then  another  took  up  the  strain,  and  a  third 
followed,  until  every  one  had  a  turn  at  prayer,  and  everyone  received  "  grace 
to  help  in  time  of  need." 

In  these  informal  prayer-meetings,  it  was  always  .a  wonder  to  listening  ears 
outside  to  hear  persons  of  the  same  family  or  friendly  circle  plead  for  each 
other,  and  for  themselves.  The  disposition  of  the  careless  to  laugh  at  such 
disclosures  of  private  sentiment,  was  soon  frozen  by  a  subtle  power,  which  they 
felt,  but  could  not  define,  and  which  sent  them  away  humbled  and  weeping  on 
account  of  their  own  hardness  and  sinfullness  of  heart. 

A  PANIC  IN  THE  TABERNACLE. 

While  the  out-door  service  was  going  on,  the  crash  of  thunder  and  a  nearing 
electric  cloud  surcharged  with  lightning,  drove  all  who  were  in  the  open  air  into 
some  place  of  shelter.  The  large  frame  tent  became  densely  crowded,  and  so 
did  the  canvas  tabernacle  where  the  children's  meeting  was  progressing.  Soon 
the  rain  descended,  and  the  floods  came,  and  the  winds  blew,  making  a  scene  of 
wild  confusion.  Under  the  pressure  a  temporary  prop  gave  way  in  the  Taber- 
nacle, and  a  cry  was  raised — '■'  The  tent  is  coming  down  ;  run  ! — mn  for  your 
lives  !"  Many  started  out  into  the  pelting  rain ;  others  sprang  to  their  feet  with 
fearful  screams ;  an  injudicious  messenger  hastened  to  the  prayer-meeting  tent 
and  bawled — "  The  Tabernacle  is  falling,  save  the  children  !" 

For  perhaps  five  or  ten  minutes  it  seemed  that  reason  was  bewildered  in  the 
panic,  but  faith  and  self-possession  soon  rallied,  and  quiet  was  restored  in  both 
meetings.  Mrs.  Inskip  mastered  the  whirlwind  of  excitement  in  the  Tabernacle 
by  a  few  reassuring  words  to  the  children  and  their  friends,  and  soon  had  all 
uniting  in  a  joyful  song  of  salvation.  She  even  turned  the  fright  to  good  ac- 
count by  persuading  people  to  seek  religion  and  pz-epare  to  meet  the  trials  of  a 
day  fast  rolling  on,  when  the  elements  shall  melt  with  fei-vent  heat,  and  the 
wicked  unbelieving  shall  seek  shelter  and  find  no  mercy. 

A  GREAT  BAPTISM. 

« 

The  most  sensible  manifestation  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  which  some  of  the 
preachers  and  people  had  ever  witnessed  or  experienced,  came  upon  the  waiting 
company  in  the  "  Board  Tent,"  on  Sabbath  afternoon.  Brother  Thompson  had 
suggested  that  the  disciples  of  Jesus  here  might  reach  a  position  of  dependence 
and  humble  faith,  in  which  "  the  promise  of  the  Father"  would  be  fuUfilled  in 
a  most  extraordinary  manner.     "  Get  down  low  at  His  feet,"  he  continued  to 


122  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL    CAMP-MEETING. 

exhort.  "  The  power  is  promised  ;  Jesus  is  in  the  midst ;  God  the  Father  is 
willing  ;  the  Holy  Ghost  is  waiting  ;  it  is  coming — 0  Lord,  fill  us  now  !" 

The  people  by  scores  sank  to  the  ground.  Some  were  utterly  overpowered 
with  "  speechless  awe,"  and  others  realized  the  mysterious  action  of  the  sacred 
fire  on  their  inmost  nature,  purging  away  the  dross,  and  purifying  them,  even 
as  gold  is  refined. 

The  reporter  we  sent  in  to  the  meeting  to  take  notes,  failed  to  bring  us  a  con- 
nected or  coherent  narrative.  His  pencil  and  note  book  fell  among  the  straw, 
and  soon  he  was  "  laid  out "  himself,  with  the  tide  of  mighty  grace  running 
over  him.  When  we  asked  for  the  particulars.  Brother  Selah  W.  Brown  re- 
plied: "Glory  to  the  Lamb  !"  This  is  all  we  gleaned  from  him  ;  but  from 
others  we  learned  what  we  here,  without  presumption  set  forth — the  occasion 
was  "  Pentecost  repeated."  It  may  have  been  on  a  smaller  scale,  but  it  was 
"  The  very  same  fire,"  and  "  the  very  same  power  Jesus  promised  should  come 
down." 

The  rain  was  so  copious  that  all  who  were  sheltered  remained  in  the  meet- 
ings, which  continued  without  intermission  during  the  afternoon. 


SABBATH  EVENING,  7  O'CLOCK. 

SERMON  BY  REV.  L.  C.  MATLACK,  D.  D.,  IN  THE  TABERNCLE. 

"  iJe  that  Cometh  to   God,   must  believe  that  He  is,   aitcLthat   He  is  a  Re- 
warder  0/ them  that  diligently  seek  Hivl." — Heh.  11 :  6. 

The  great  salvation,  of  which  so  much  has  been  so  well  said,  and  so  sweetly 
sung,  during  this  meeting,  is  not  the  creature  of  our  devotions,  but  the  gift  of 
God.  We  must  not  look  so  much  at  the  meeting  of  God's  people,  but  we 
should  look  more  to  meeting  with  God — each  soul  for  itself.  There  is  a  possi- 
ble peril  to  the  interests  of  pure  religion  and  undefiled  before  God.  It  would 
be  involved  necessarily,  if  to  any  extent,  we  attach  to  these  means  of  grace,  a 
creative  power.  Let  us  not,  therefore,  substitute  coming  to  a  National  Camp- 
mccting,  for  the  infinitely  more  important  movement  of  coming  to  God. 

The  blessing  of  "a  clean  heart"  cannot  by  any  possibility  result  from  the 
aggregation  of  emotional  impulses,  which  sweep  like  an  ocean  tide  all  around  us 
occasionally.  Let  that  tide  rise  and  swell  in  mountain  waves  beneath  us.  lint 
above  its  waters  we  must  look  aloft  constantly.  Coming  thus  to  God,  floods  of 
harmony,  however  moving  and  melting,  cannot  float  our  souls  into  the  haven  of 
perfect  rest.     These  both,  are  aids  to  the  soul.     They  help  us  on  to  God.     But 


A    MODERN    PENTECOST.  123 

they  are  means  only.  G  od  himself  is  the  source  ;  the  fount  of  every  blessiujj^. 
The  joint  support  of  other  souls,  who  worship  God  in  spirit  and  in  truth,  will 
help  us  to  draw  near  to  God.  The  melting  melody  of  sweet  spiritual  singing, 
will  open  the  mind  and  liquify  the  heart  preparatory  for  the  admission  of  a  liv- 
ing faith,  and  the  reception  of  a  divine  mould  of  life  ;  yet,  the  soul  must  reach 
beyond  and  above  all  its  surroundings,  and  come  to  God—  by  direct  approach — 
actual  contact — by  personal  communion — conscious  presence.  He  alone  is  the 
Giver  of  ''  every  good  gift  and  every  perfect  gift." 

From  His  hand  alone  we  must  receive  this  great  salvation.  It  is  emphatic- 
ally, "  The  gift  of  God." 

One  thought  predominates  in  my  mind,  as  the  paramount  question  for  our 
present  consideration;  and  that  is:  How  may  we,  at  once,  get  to  the  Giver? 
Or,  What  is  necessary,  in  order  to  approach  Him  now,  so  as  to  be  accepted  and 
sanctified  "  wholly  ;"  so  that  our  "  whole  spirit  and  soul  and  body  may  be  preserved 
blameless  unto  the  coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 

To  this  inquiry,  the  text  gives  an  explicit  answer,  which  is  at  once  simple 
and  also  all-sufficient  in  its  directions  and  information  We  must  believe, — 
believe  that  God  is, — that  He  is  a  Rewarder — of  diligent  seekers.  And  the 
application  of  this  answer  to  the  question  now  in  our  minds,  is  the  legitimate 
construction  of  the  text,  as  it  stands  related  to  the  entire  eleventh  chapter  of 
Hebrews,  of  which  it  is  the  key. 

In  this  chapter  is  given  a  record  of  pious  worthies,  who  did  come  to  God. 
They  came  very  near  to  God  ;  among  them  were  Abel,  Enoch,  Noah,  Abram, 
Isaac,  Jacob,  Moses,  Samuel,  and  the  prophets.  These  all  received  from  His 
hand  every  thing  their  faith  claimed,  and  that  is  assigned  as  the  reason  they  got 
what  they  wanted.     "By  faith"  all  these  wonders  were  wrought. 

With  one, the  thing  wanted  was,  a  "witness  that  he  was  righteous;"  with 
another  it  was — "  testimony  that  he  pleased  God."  Such  witnesses  of 
righteousness  are  precisely  what  we  would  have  now.  Many  of  you  are  long- 
ing for  the  "  witness  "  from  the  Lord,  that  "all  you  do  is  right,  according 
to  his  will  and  word,  well  pleasing  in  his  sight."  And  for  this  we  need  now 
to  come  as  this  "cloud  of  witnesses  came,  by  whom  we  are  compassed  about." 
Let  us  endeavor  during  this  hour  of  service,  to  lay  aside  every  weight — 
every  besetment,  and  press  along  the  very  pathway  which  they  trod,  looking 
unto  Jesus  the  author  and  finisher  of  our  faith.  And  he  himself  duplicates 
the  instructions  of  Paul,  wiih  a  promise  of  great  scope  and  power,  saying  : 
"  What  things  soever  ye  desire  when  ye  pray,  believe  that  ye  shall  receive — 
and  ye  shall  have." 

Thus  you  have  before  you  the  instructions  of  the  divine  word.  Here  is 
given  to  you  the  pathway  to  heavenly  treasures,  and  the  key  used  by  ancient 
worthies  to  unlock  the  magazine  of  divine  supplies.  And  neither  Abel,  nor 
Enoch,  nor  Abram  had  any  greater  work  to  do  than  now  remains  undone  all 
around  our  pathway  in  this  nineteenth  century.  Their  latest  successors  en 
earth,  at  no  time  in  the  world's  history  were  more  in  need  of  the  utmost  (j'd 
is  willing  to  do  in  and  for  his  servants,  than  are  we  now,  who  are  h'  re 
to-day. 

There  are  "kingdoms  to  be  subdued,"  "righteousness  to  be  sought," 
"  promises  to  be  obtained,"  "  armies  of  aliens"  to  be  "  put  to  flight,"  many 
entrenched  "  strongholds"  to  be  pulled  "  down,"  by  the  help  of  God.  And 
we  must  not  forget  the  declaration  and  promise  of  Christ,  that  even  his  own 


124  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

great  works  are  to  be  excelled  in  the  after  days.  For  he  said  :  "  He  that  be- 
lieveth  on  me,  the  works  that  I  do  shall  he  do  also  ;  and  greater  works  than 
these  shall  he  do."  These  greater  works  include  the  vastly  extended  field  of 
pious  labor,  and  the  multiplied  exampe  of  personal  salvation,  through  the 
agencies  of  truth  by  human  utterance  Ten  thousand  times  ten  thousand, 
and  thousands  of  thousands  of  redeemed  spirits,  saved  by  personal  human  ef- 
fort instrumentally,  are  a  fulfillment  of  this  declaration  from  the  lips  of  Christ. 
And  these  greater  works  we  must  be  prepared  to  accomplish  in  the  name  of 
Christ.  Let  us  therefore  come  to  Grod.  Let  us,  my  brethren,  wake  up  to 
the    realities  of  the  stern  conflict  before  us. 

We  need  the  divine  communing,  the  filling  of  love,  the  baptism  of  fire, 
the  whole  panoply  of  Grod's  armor,  to  fit  us  for  our  part  in  the  battle  of  the 
age — under  this  banner,  "  Holiness  to  the  Lord  "  Perhaps  the  cry  of  Job 
comes  to  our  lips  :  "  0  that  I  knew  where  I  might  find  Him  !"  Then  come 
with  Job  "  even  to  His  seat,"  and  order  your  cause  before  Him,  and  fill  your 
mouth  with  arguments  divinely  inspired.  With  Job,  each  of  us  might  say, 
"  I  would  know  the  words  which  He  would  answer  me,  and  understand  what 
He  would  say  unto  me  !  Will  He  plead  against  me  with  his  great  power  ? 
No  !  But  he  would  put  strength  into  me  1 "  That  strength  is  what  we  need, 
and  may  have  this  hour.     0  my  brethren,  let  us  come  to  God  I 

"  But  will  God  in  every  deed  dwell  with  men  on  the  earth  ?  "  Does  he 
authorize,  encourage,  invite  any  such  approach  to  his  presence  ?  Hear  His 
word.  '•  To  this  man  will  I  look,  even  to  him  that  is  poor,  and  of  a  contrite 
heart,  and  trembleth  at  my  word."  The  significance  of  these  words  is  inten- 
sified by  the  declaration  accompanying  them,  that  "The  heaven  is  my  throne 
and  the  earth  is  my  footstool  :  where  is  the  house  that  ye  build  unto  me  ? 
And  where  is  the  place  of  my  rest?"  Demonstrating  that  not  in  the  accom- 
modation which  houses  afi"ord,  but  in  the  companionship  of  man,  he  delights 
and  rests. 

And  therefore  it  is  as  Isaiah  says,  (45:  24 :)  "  Surely  shall  one  say,  in  the 
Lord  have  I  righteousness  and  strength.  Even  to  Him  shall  men  come."  "For 
thus  saith  the  Lord,  even  them  will  I  bring  to  my  holy  mountain,  and  make 
them  joyful  in  my  house  of  prayer."  Come  !  Let  us  up  then,  toward  His 
mountain,  and  find  righteousness  and  strength,  and  joy  in  His  house  of  prayer. 

Besides  these  as.surances,  God  is  everywhere  represented  in  His  word  as  long- 
ing for  human  love.  His  voice  of  mercy  and  of  love  is  full  of  solicitude  for 
intimacy  with  man.  God  is  the  infinite  lover  of  the  soul.  Although  His  name 
is  holy,  and  He  dwells  in  the  high  and  holy  place,  yet  with  him  who  is  of  a 
contrite  and  humble  spirit,  God  finds  sweeter  companionship  than  even  in  high 
and  heavenly  courts.  The  framework  of  man,  so  "  fearfully  and  wonderfully 
made,"  has  apartments  in  it  fitted  only  for  and  filled  fully  by  the  great  God. 
He  made  man  for  himself  Any  other  occupant  is  a  usurper.  Any  other  ap- 
propriation of  ourselves  is  an  abominable  prostitution.  But  in  order  to  such 
occupancy,  we  must  first  come  to  him,  lovingly,  longingly,  bringing  an  open 
heart  as  our  tribute  of  devotion.  Then  will  he  fill,  replenish  and  overflow  every 
believing  soul.     Shall  we  not  thus  come  to  him  now  and  here  ? 

The  whole  tenor  of  the  divine  utterance  in  the  Scripture  is  as  a  loving  cry 
from  the  heart  of  God.  These  utterances  unite  in  one  sweet  voice  of  mercy 
and  voice  of  love.     It  seems  to  say  :  "  l/ove  me  !  Oh  ye  sons  of  men  !     Love 


A    MODERN    PENTECOST.  125 

me!  oh  ye  daughters  of  Zion  !  I  am  hungry  for  your  love."  "Look  up  to 
me."  "  Look  unto  me  and  be  ye  saved."  And  yet  this  almost  importunate 
plea  which  is  repeated  age  after  age,  is  coldly  rejected  by  the  vast  majority  of 
men.  There  are  no  words  more  expressive  of  the  sadness  of  disappointed  love, 
than  the  words  of  Jesus.  (John  15:  25.)  He  says  :  "  They  hated  me  without 
a  cause."     "  Now  have  they  both  seen  and  hated — both  me  and  my  Father." 

Such  is  the  loving  Father  and  beloved  Son  to  whom  we  are  invited,  and  to 
whom  coming,  as  we  now  approach,  we  will  find  precious  to  us.  And  we  more- 
over shall  thereby  be  built  upon  a  spiritual  house,  a  holy  priesthood,  to  offer  up 
spiritual  sacrifices,  acceptable  to  God  by  Jesus  Christ. 

This  coming  to  God  will  please  Him.  Such  an  aflSrmation  is  implied  in  the 
words  joined  to  the  text.  "  Without  faith  it  is  impossible  to  please  God." 
Enoch  did  please  God,  and  God  told  him  so — gave  him  "  this  testimony,"  be- 
fore the  translation. 

My  brethren  :  we  should  delight  to  please  Him.  And  we  are  no  more  pleased 
to  be  blest  of  God  than  is  He  pleased  to  be  trusted  by  us  with  a  loving  confi- 
dence. Let  us  then  seek  to  be  gladdened  by  His  favor,  and  also  delight  Him 
with  our  childlike  faith,  by  coming  on  the  line  indicated,  as  diligent  seekers. 
For  even  the  most  delicate  relation  of  husband  and  wife  is  sanctioned  and  sanc- 
tified by  God  himself  as  illustrative  of  his  delight  in  human  love.  "As  the 
bridegroom  rejoiceth  over  the  bride,  so  shall  thy  God  rejoice  over  thee."  No 
other  beings  have  the  capacity  to  afford  such  delight  to  the  Infinite  One. 

Jesus  assures  us  that  "the  true  worshiper  shall  worship  the  Father,  in  spirit 
and  in  truth.  For  the  Father  seeketh  such  to  worship  Him."  Yes,  seeketh 
such,  whose  spirit  approaches  His  so  near  that  they  realize  his  presence  person- 
ally manifested.  0,  yes,  it  is  possible  that  we  may,  with  favored  John,  recline 
our  weai'ied  heads  upon  the  dear  Redeemer's  breast.  God's  arms  of  love  would 
compass  us.  Close  up  against  his  bosom  we  may  lie :  so  close,  that  the  throb- 
bings  of  His  loving  heart  shall  give  perpetual  impulse  to  motive  power,  which 
in  us  shall  be  exhaustless  and  eternal. 

It  was  no  pain  to  Jesus,  but  a  pleasure,  when  his  frame  thrilled  to  the  touch 
of  the  poor  woman  whose  faith  brought  virtue  out  of  him,  to  heal  her  so  com- 
pletely. And  so  God  would  be  touched  by  the  hand  of  faith,  and  realize  the 
joy  of  giving  the  Holy  Spirit  to  them  that  ask  Him.  The  joy  which  parents 
feel  in  giving  good  gifts  to  their  children,  whose  eyes  sparkle  with  delight  in 
receiving,  is  only  a  faint  semblance  of  the  divine  joy  which,  on  coming  to  God, 
will  awaken  in  Him  and  in  us.  Come  then  !  Come  now  !  We  can,  we  will, 
and  we  do  believe,  that  He  is  a  Rewarder — to  them  who  thus  seek  Hkn  ! 

But  it  may  be  asked,  doe3  human  experience  in  modern  times  realize  the  an- 
cient ideas  of  divine  communion  ?  Have  any  in  our  day  been  able  to  approach, 
or  come  to  God  ?  0,  yes.  Human  experience  does  confirm  and  fulfill  the  pre- 
cious promises.  Men  do  get  near  to  God,  and  even  dwell  in  the  secret  place  of 
the  Most  High,  and  abide  under  the  shadow  of  the  Almighty. 

*  "Payson,  at  times  almost  lost  a  sense  of  the  external  world,  in  the  ineffa- 
ble thoughts  of  God's  glory,  which  rolled  like  a  sea  of  light  around  him  at  the 
throne  of  grace. 

"Cowper,  in  one  of  the  lucid  hours  of  his  religious  life,  had  an  experience  of 
God's  presence  which  he  enjoyed  in  prayer,  that  he  thought  he  should  have 
died  with  joy,  if  special  strength  had  not  been  imparted  to  "bear  the  disclosure. 

*  Phelp'8  StiU  Hour. 


126  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL    CAMP-MEETING. 

"  One  of  the  Tennents,  on  one  occasion,  when  engaged  in  secret  devotion,  was 
so  overpowered  by  the  revelation  which  G-od  opened  upon  his  soul,  with  aug- 
menting intensity  of  effulgence  as  he  prayed,  that  at  length  he  recoiled  frum 
the  intolerable  joy  as  from  a  pain,  and  besought  God  to  withhold  from  him 
further  manifestations  of  His  glory.  He  said  :  '  Shall  Thy  servant  see  Thee 
and  live  ? ' 

"Edwards  enjoyed  sweet  hours  on  the  banks  of  Hudson's  river  in  happy 
converse  with  Grod ;  and  the  inward  sense  of  Christ  which  came  into  his 
heart  he  says  he  knew  not  how  to  express  otherwise  than  by  a  calm,  sweet 
abstraction  of  soul  from  all  the  concerns  of  this  world;  and  sometimes  a  kind 
cf  vision,  of  being  above  in  the  mountains,  far  from  all  mankind,  sweetly  con- 
versing with  Christ,  and  rapt  and  swallowed  up  in  G(jd." 

These  experiences  of  men,  not  one  of  whom  were  Methodists,  do  most  fully 
anticipate  and  sustain  the  utterances  and  experience  of  Wesley,  Fletcher, 
Bramwell,  Asbury,  Roberts,  McKendree,  Sharp,  and  thousands  of  others  who 
all  came  to  God — came  close  to  Him — and  were  received. 

Brethren,  you  have  had  the  theory  of  sanctification  ably  presented,  both  as 
a  doctrine,  and  as  an  experience.  The  duty  of  consecration — the  prepara- 
tory and  essential  conditions  of  heart  purity,  have  been  amply  and  fitly  urged 
on  your  attention  by  others.  To  night  1  dwell  mainly  on  a  result  of  it — near- 
ness to  God.  And  I  press  on  your  attention  those  peculiar  words  of  the 
Saviour  about  prayer.  They  have  a  deep  significance.  "  Pray  to  thy  Father, 
which  is  in  secret,  and  thy  Father  which  seeth  in  secret  shall  reward  thee 
openly." 

This  closet  intercourse,  shut  in  with  God,  produces  results  which  are  mani- 
fested openly,  when  we  come  away  from  the  secret  place.  The  glorious  light 
which  shone  through  the  skin  of  Moses'  face,  did  no  more  plainly  show  his 
having  been  with  God  in  the  mountain,  than  does  the  light  of  their  good 
works,  and  the  overflowing  love,  and  increased  power  of  prayerful  souls  de- 
monstrate that  they  have  been  with  God  in  the  closet. 

Paul  speaks  of  ''an  inheritance  "   peculiar  to  "them  that  are  sanctified." 

One  peculiar  feature  of  the  sanctified  ones,  who,  with  God  are  permitted 
to  enjoy  familiar  intercourse,  is  stated  thus  by  a  late  writer  : 

"  The  sanctified  one  seems  to  me  like  a  vessel  which  God  takes  up  to 
heaven,  and  fills  with  his  love  and  power,  and  then  returns  to  the  Church 
and  the  world  to  impart  of  the  fullness  of  its  salvation.  It  is  by  such  that 
God  has  access  to  thof?e  so  far  away  from  Him  that  they  do  not  hear  the 
Spirit's  whisperings.  Sweet  privilege,  to  be  thus  taken  into  the  inner  chamber 
of  the  Beloved  !  Blessed  interchange  of  thought,  between  the  soul  and  the 
High  and  Holy  One  that  inhabiteth  eternity!"* 

These  souls  become  magnetic  centres  of  attraction.  Filled  with  God's 
gracious  power,  their  light  shines,  and  is  seen  of  men.  They  radiate  pious 
influences  over  a  vast  circumference.  Instrumentally  they  fulfill  the  Sa- 
viour's words,  "I,  when  lifted  up, will  draw  all  men  unto  me."  And  no  lift- 
ing up  is  more  eff"ective  in  drawing  men  to  Jesus  than  the  exhibition  of  a  holy 
life.  Such  exhibition  you  and  I  desire  to  make.  Therefore  we  pray  for  the 
hyssop-purging  and  the  blood-washing.  Hence  the  cry  within  so  many  hearts  : 
"  Create  in  me  a  clean  heart."     0  that  we  may  come  to  G>d  and  get  thit 

*  Drops  from  ranny  FouDtains. 


A    MODERN  TENTECOST.  127 

pn^cious  cleansing  at  this  hour.  This  will  precede  and  prepare  for  the  close 
communings   with  Grod  which  our  souls  were  made  to  enjoy. 

Such  fellowship  divine  is  not  unknown  among  our  own  brethren,  living 
as  well  as  dead.  Alfred  Cookman,  of  blessed  memory,  who  was  so  childlike 
in  his  friendship,  and  so  pure  in  heart,  said  at  Des  Plaines  National  Camp- 
meeting,  after  a  season  of  prayer :  "  Grod  was  so  near  to  me,  so  fully  revealed, 
ihat  I  almost  thought  I  should  have  died  with  awe  and  love." 

The  childUke  spirit  of  Cookman  is  a  feature  of  Christian  character  only 
those  can  have  who  live  near  to  God.  They  who  come  to  Him  must  part  with 
their  selfhood,  assumption,  and  pride  of  manhood,  and  become  as  little  chil- 
dren. They  will  abase  themselves,  however,  only  to  be  exalted  higher  in  the 
scale  of  spiritual  being.  Down  with  self  and  up  with  God,  above  all,  over 
all,  blessed  for  evermore  ! 

Dr.  Steele,  whose  newness  of  life  he  characterizes  as  "  One  year  with  the 
Comforter,"  was  at  one  time,  while  engaged  with  God  in  pious  meditation, 
visited  with  such  a  manifestation  of  the  presence  of  Jesus,  and  so  filled  with 
.love  to  him,  that  it  seemed  as  if  his  enraptured  soul  would  lift  his  body  out 
of  the  chair,  and  float  away  with  it  heavenward. 

And  0,  my  brethren,  1  too,  understand  what  it  is  to  be  very  near  to  God. 
Passing  down  the  lower  Mississippi,  seventy-five  miles  below  New  Orleans, 
in  1870,  to  a  new  and  untried  field  of  lalDor,  where,  as  yet  no  Protestant 
Church  had  been  organized,  God  met  me  on  the  way.  It  was  night.  Alone 
on  the  deck,  in  the  darkness,  my  heart  was  drawn  out  sweetly  and  reverently 
toward  Him.  His  infinite  purity — His  condesension  —  His  love  to  man — 
His  incarnation — the  way  of  life  in  Jesus  Chri.st— all  stood  out  in  such  gran- 
deur, and  power,  and  glory,  that  the  bright  constellation  of  heaven  paled  before 
the  brilliancy  and  beauty  of  these  diviner  things.  Waves  of  joy  rolled  over 
my  soul,  when  I  bowed  in  rapturous  amazement,  and  wept  from  my  very  ex- 
cess of  delight  in  these  thoughts  of  God. 

Laid  low  with  the  y^low  fever  in  1871,  on  the  border  of  the  grave,  yet 
recovering  slowly,  I  drew  near  to  my  God.  My  relations  with  Him,  my 
work,  my  interior  life,  were  all  searchingly  analyzed.  Naked  before  the  All- 
seeing,  and  not  afraid  when  God  drew  near,  my  soul  talked  with  Him  fear- 
lessly. I  said  :  "0  God,  thou  knowest  that  I  love  Thee.  Search  me  and  try 
me.  If  it  be  not  so,  reprove  me  from  my  presumption.  I  want  no  favor,  no 
friendship  but  thine.  Only  do  Thou  allow  me  to  draw  nearer  to  Thee,  by 
transformation  of  character,  so  that  Thou  canst  put  thy  hand  on  me  and'say, 
'  This  is  my  friend!'  Then. I  will  forego  every  other  ambition,  and  become 
absorbed  in  Thy  love  and  service."  God  sweetly  assured  me  of  his 
favor  and  friendship.  Precious  confidence  of  faith  !  In  an  ecstacy  of  de- 
light I  was  led  to  say  :   "  Now  God  and  I  understand  each  other  !" 

Excuse  this  personal  narrative.  I  return  to  a  direct  appeal.  "  When 
,<5hall  I  come  and  appear  before  God,"  in  a  divinely  inspired  solicitude  ?  I 
look  out  upon  a  multitude  before  me,  many  of  whom  are  leaning  that  way. 
You  are  ready  to  move  in  that  direction.  Some  of  you  are  thus  near  God 
now.  Before  you  all  the  pathway  is  opened  up  in  the  words  of  the  text.  They 
are  words  fitly  spoken— like  apples  of  gold  in  a  picture  of  silver.  Here  is 
the  mercy-seat  on  which  God  waits  to  greet  you  Over  the  entrance-gate, 
graven  in  letters  of  light,  are  the  instructions  of  the  Master  of  Ceremonies,  for 
the  guidance  of  all  who  seek  an  interview  with  the  Heavenly  King,  in  His 
court-. 


128  SIXTEENTH   NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

Pause,  ere  ye  enter — read — remember  :  "  He  that  cometh  to  God,"  "  must 
believe  " — "  that  He  is" — "that  He  is  a  Rewarder" — "of  them  that  dili- 
gently seek  him  !" 

You  want  the  pearl  of  purity ;  he  has  it.  He  is  here  to  bestow  it.  Be- 
lieve this.  Approach  him  as  a  Rewarder.  One  "  has  ascended  up  on  high, 
led  captivity  captive,  and  received  gifts  for  men."  The  Father  distributes 
them  in  his  name,  to  those  who  have  faith  in  his  name.  Draw  near,  in  full 
assurance  of  faith.     Come  thus  to  God.     Come  now. 

Remember  :  the  successful  seeker  must  be  a  diligent  seeker.  You  must 
not  act  from  an  impulse  merely,  and  only  for  a  moment.  A  spasm  or  desire 
will  not  accomplish  the  end.  Make  it  a  business.  Thoroughly  examine 
yourselves,  A  life-purpose  of  entire  consecration,  at  the  start,  will  shorten 
the  path  wonderfully.     An  indefinite  aim  will  prolong  the  search. 

But  God  does  not  hide  himself.  He  calls  to  you.  He  announces  where 
he  may  be  found.  Even  the  way  of  approach  is  pointed  out.  The  very  con- 
ditions of  acceptance  are  proclaimed  beforehand.  He  would  not  have  you 
miss  your  way.  He  watches  for  your  coming.  The  blessed  Holy  Ghost  is 
provided  to  help  your  infirmities — to  strengthen  weak  hands  and  confirm  fee- 
ble knees.  This  way— this  way  to  the  mercy-seat !  God  help  you  to  come  to 
him,  believingly,  hopefully,  trustingly,  lovingly. 

"  He  that  cometh  to  God,  must  believe,  that  he  is,  and  that  he  is  a  Re- 
warder of  them  that  diligently  seek  him." 


REV.  WM.  MCDONALD'S  EXHORTATION. 

The  temperament  of  some  of  the  brethren  would  have  moved  them,  at  the 
close  of  Dr.  Matlack's  sermon,  to  take  advantage  of  such  a  tidal-wave  of  re- 
ligious excitement  as  prevailed,  and  intensify  it  into  action.  But  Bro.  Mc- 
Donald in  his  cool,  deliberate  way,  arose  and  began  to  unfold  his  ftivorite 
topics,  reason  and  faith — reason,  the  ground-work  of  all  religious  obligation, 
and  faith  the  most  reasonable  thing  in  the  whole  universe  of  mind.  He  ob- 
serves numbers  of  people,  professedly  seeking  heart  purity.  They  seem  to 
be  aelf-desperate ;  they  are  the  first  to  come  forward,  and  <he  last  to  leave  the 
altar;  they  mean  to  bear  the  cross,  and  "  go  through."  He  wants  to  say  to 
them  that  all  this  isn't  salvation — ;it  is  a  rough  road,  but  can  never  lead  them 
to  purity!  There  are  misapprehensions  existing  that  he  would  fain  remove. 
At  every  meeting,  so  far  as  we  remember,  he  seized  the  opportune  moment 
to  take  the  latitude  and  longitude  of  spiritual  progress.  Who  can  forget,  if 
they  were  within  hearing,  that  night  at  Des  Plaincs,  when  hundreds  of 
eager  souls  listened,  and  followed  his  every  word,  even  repeating  after  him, 


A   MODERN  PENTECOST.  129 

like  a  Sabbath-school  class  in  concert,  the  act  of  surrender,  and  the  exercise 
of  immediate  faith,  until  the  ground  seemed  as  if  shaken  by  an  earthquake, 
so  manifest  was  the  power  of  Grod  unto  salvation. 

Our  Iowa  brethren  will  also  recall  the  day  he  stood  one  hour  answering 
objections,  reconciling  discrepancies,  explaining  the  simplicity  of  the  divine 
arrangement,  and  placing  before  every  man  and  woman  the  alternative,  then 
and  there,  of  sudden  rest  and  full  salvation,  or  continued  uncertainty  and 
distress,  as  they  stepped  out  on  the  naked  promise,  or  shrank  with  fear  from 
the  step. 

His  "talk  "  on  Sabbath  evening  was  of  a  similar  character,  and  for  similar 
ends.  Assuming  that  they  wanted  deliverance ;  that  the  dominion  or  in- 
dwelling of  sin  was  distasteful,  yes,  hateful,  intolerable — and  that  they  really 
wanted  it  now,  he  first  stormed  the  entrenchments  of  error,  and  then  pointed 
out  the  path  to  the  valley  of  blessing,  and  through  it  to  the  fountain  that 
washes  away  every  stain  of  sin. 

The  great  object  sought,  he  declared,  could  not  be  obtained  by  feeling. 
"  Feeling  is  no  part  of  faith.  You  must  cease  from  your  struggling,  and 
quietly  cast  yourself,  all  helpless,  on  Christ.  Then,  and  only  then,  can  the 
blessing  you  are  seeking  be  found.    You  must  honor  Grod  by  believing  in  him. 

"But  there  is  something  which  precedes  believing,  and  you  cannot  believe 
until  it  is  done.  It  is  consecration — not  by  piecemeal,  but  entire.  The  will 
must  be  surrendered,  and  this  takes  all.  You  must  become  nothing,  and  let 
Christ  be  all  in  all.  Self  will  is  incorporated  in  the  veriest  trifles  sometimes. 
Each  one  has  his  or  her  idol.  You  know  what  it  is — this  in  one  person,  that 
in  another ;  and  there  centres  your  will. 

"  A  certain  lady  sought  purity.  She  had  a  brooch  which  she  greatly 
valued  as  a  memento  from  a  dear  friend.  It  was  strangely  suggested  that 
this  must  be  cast  aside.  For  some  time  she  resisted,  but  the  impression 
orew  stronger.  At  last  the  golden  treasure  (which  was  found  to  be  mostly 
alloy — 'pewter') — was  parted  with,  and  with  it  went  the  surrender  of  her 
will,  and  the  blessing  soon  came." 

Numerous  instances  were  cited,  showing  the  influence  of  trivial  hindrances 
preventing  a  full  consecration. 

"  With  the  surrender  of  your  will,"  he  continued,  "goes  that  which  supports 
it'  you  must  yield  your  will  entirely  before  you  can  believe  that  God  saves 
you.  The  conditions  are  a  perfect  consecration — not  of  your  tobacco,  or  any 
such  trash,  but  yottr  ivill.  Be  sure  you  are  sincere  at  this  point.  Then  you 
are  to  honor  God  by  faith;  that  is,  by  believing  his  word  —  'I  will  receive 
you.' 

9 


130  SIXTEENTH   NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

"  You  are  to  believe  he  does  save  you;  not  because  you  are  struggling,  and 
worrying,  and  crying — no,  this  is  no  part  of  faith ;  nor  is  it  incited  by  these 
things — they  only  obstruct  faith.  Believe  he  receives  you  now,  because  he 
has  promised  to  do  so.  Suppose  a  man  greatly  needing  a  certain  sum  of 
money  is  presented  with  a  check  for  the  full  amount  by  a  friend  known  to 
be  perfectly  able  to  pay  it,  and  the  man  on  his  way  to  receive  the  money 
works  himself  up  to  a  condition  of  distress,  seeking  for  evidence  that  the 
check  he  himself  believed  to  be  good  was  good — what  would  be  thought  of 
such  inconsistency?     Will  you  thus  dishonor  Grod  ?  " 

Admonishing  all  to  consider  well  this  matter,  he  asked  an  expression,  by 
uplifted  hands,  attesting  whether  they  surrendered  the  will,  and  believed 
that  Jesus  saved  them  now  ? 

"  Lord,  I  believe,"  was  the  sentiment,  "  uttered  or  unexpressed,"  of  hun- 
dreds in  that  audience.  "Now,"  added  the  speaker,  "let  us  avoid  any  mis- 
take here.  This  consecration  and  faith  is  7wt  the  witness.  Tarry  a  little. 
Look  for  the  answering  fire — the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  You  have 
believed.  Glod  accepts;  you  are  saved!  All  this  without  any  feeling — 
saved  by  faith.  Now  look  for  the  ratification  of  this  act;  the  witness  will 
be  given." 

All  this  time  mighty  prayer  had  been  ascending.  Emotion,  long  pent, 
swept  over  every  barrier,  and  the  floodgates  of  glory  were  opened ;  the 
power  was  like  billows  rolling  in  on  the  shore.  The  close  of  the  meeting 
was  sublime.  The  presence  of  the  Lord  filled  the  Tabernacle.  Shouts  of 
victory  were  heard  on  every  side,  and  the  singing  of  the  doxology  ended  a 
meeting,  the  remembrance  of  which  will  never  fade  from  the  minds  of  those 
who  participated  in  it. 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  131 


SIXTH  DAY. 


MONDAY  MORNINa  MEETINGS, 


Instead  of  reaction  or  mental  and  physical  lassitude,  after  the  exhausting 
labors  and  holy  excitements  of  the  Sabbath,  the  people  were  out  even  more 
promptly  than  usual,  and  at  the  sunrise  services.  Many  wanted  an  opportu- 
nity to  acknowledge  the  Lord,  and  to  speak  of  his  love,  which  had  been  shed 
abroad  anew  in  their  hearts,  establishing  them  in  their  most  holy  faith. 
Others  had  passed  through  the  day  and  evening  meetings  without  any  sensi- 
ble manifestation  or  increase  of  light  and  power,  and  their  continued  cry  was 
"  Bless  me,  even  me,  0  my  Father." 

"  A  crisis  is  upon  us,"  remarked  the  leader.  "While  it  is  proper  that  we 
should  praise  Grod  for  yesterday,  we  must  improve  the  grace  given,  and  then 
he  will  give  more  grace.  Let  us  spend  some  time  together  in  prayer  for  the 
descent  of  the  Holy  Ghost." 

Here  ensued  some  moments  of  wrestling  for  victory,  and  pleading  the 
promises  of  God,  which  are  "  yea  and  amen  to  every  one  that  believeth." 

"  We  must  have  mighty  power  to-day,"  it  was  said,  "  and  now  the  gates 
are  open ;  yea  the  windows  of  heaven.  Lord,  pour  out  such  a  blessing  as 
there  shall  not  be  room  to  receive  it." 

Prayer  was  asked  in  behalf  of  a  pastor  who  was  taken  very  sick.  This 
brought  out  the  intelligence  that  a  case  of  severe  illness  had  been  healed  dur- 
ing the  previous  night.     Then  was  sung : 

"  I  love  to  tell  the  story, 
Of  unseen  things  above, 
Of  Jesus  and  His  glory, 
Of  Jesus  and  His  love,"  &c. 

"  Now  for  experience — short,  distinct  expression  of  present  feeling  or 
faith." 

"  Bless  the  Lord,  0  my  soul,  and  forget  not  all  his  benefits." 
"I  am  helped.  Self  is  cleansed  out  this  morning,  and  Jesus  is  all  in  all." 
^I  ventured  to  touch  the  hem  of  his  garment,  and  he  restored  my  soul." 
*•  Sixteen  years  ago  I  laid  my  soul  at  Jesus'  feet,  but  I  was  lacking  an  en- 
tire consecration.  Now  I  make  a  full  surrender.  I  have  a  great  work  to  do 
at  home.     Pray  that  the  Lord  may  help  me." 

"  My  soul  doth  magnify  the  Lord.     I  am  saved." 


132  SIXTEENTH   NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

"  He  saves  me  sweetly.     His  love  casteth  out  all  fear." 
"  Yesterday  I  was  filled.     God  is  still  giving,  and  I  am  receiving." 
"  I  now  trust  in  the  Lord  With  all  my  heart,  and  love  him  supremely." 
"  After  hesitating  about  it  long,  I  came  to  the  hard  place,  and  taking  hold 
of  his  hand  he  has  helped  me  over.     I  reckon  myself  dead  indeed  unto  sin." 

"  I  want  to  be  little,  more  meek  and  more  mild, 
More  like  my  blest  Saviour  and  more  like  a  child  ; 
More  watchful,  more  prayerful,  more  lowly  in  mind, 
More  thankful,  more  gentle,  more  humble  and  kind." 

The  singing  of  this  by  Brother  Gray  produced — always  does — a  sensation. 

It  is  "  multum  in  parvo,"  and  presents  a  fine  picture  of  completeness  in 
Christian  character. 

"  Bless  God  for  the  victory  he  has  given  me.     I  am  free." 

"  All  clear  and  bright  within,  and  the  Everlasting  arms  are  around  me." 

"  This  highway  is  grand  !  0  how  glad  I  am,  that  even  late  in  life,  I  have 
entered  on  it  to  journey  with  the  sanctified." 

"  I  am  still  seeking  a  pure  heart."  (Voices — "Why  don't  you  believe  and 
receive  ?") 

"I  humbly,  yet  confidently,  say:  'The  Spirit  and  blood  make  my  cleansing 
complete ;  and  his  perfect  love  casteth  out  fear.'  " 

"  Like  those  lightning  flashes  yesterday,  the  Lord  revealed  himself  to  me 
when  a  poor  drunkard.  At  first  it  was  all  terror;  then  it  was  all  tender- 
ness; now  it  is  all  love — love  to  God  and  love  to  man.  Oh,  it  is  good  to  be 
here.     I'll  tell  you  the  rest  when  I  get  to  heaven." 

"  0  the  blood,  the  precious  blood, 
That  Jesus  shed  for  me  : 
Upon  the  cross,  in  crimson  flood, 
Just  now  by  faith  I  see." 

"  For  one  year  and  a  half  I  have  rested  sweetly  in  Jesus.  No  storm  can 
shake  my  inward  calm  while  to  this  refuge  clinging." 

"  At  Oakington  the  invitation  came  to  me — '  0  taste  and  see  that  the  Lord 
is  good.'     I  did ;  and  0  how  sweet  it  is  to  me  still." 

"  I'm  happy,  I'm  happy,  0  wondrous  account. 
My  joys  are  immortal,  I  stand  on  the  mount; 
I  gaze  on  my  treasure,  and  long  to  be  tlierp, 
With  angels  my  kindred,  and  Jesus  my  dear." 

"  Just  at  this  moment  I  know  the  blood  of  Jesus  cleanseth  me." 

"  It  was  not  to  ascend  Pisgah  I  came  to  this  meeting,  but  to  have  more  of 

the  nature  of  Christ  infused  into  my  soul.     I  want  the  working  spirit.     I 

long  to  be  like  Jesus." 

"  I  have  found  a  satisfying  portion  here.     In  early  life  I  gave  my  heart  to 

Jesus.    When  I  was  convicted  for  sanctification,  I  met  with  peculiar  obstruc- 


A    MODERN    PENTECOST.  133 

tions.  For  three  years  I  mourned  my  inward  depravity.  Sometimes  all 
became  as  dark  as  midnight;  but  He  gave  me  one  promise  at  a  time  to  keep 
me  encouraged  in  the  effort.  At  times  a  little  light  gleaming  from  the 
precious  cross  was  more  to  me  than  all  the  world.  Then  hope  began  to 
dawn.  Satan  tried  his  arts  to  deceive  me ;  but  Jesus  meant  to  make  me 
wholly  his,  and  I  am  now  all  the  Lord's.  He  is  filling  me  up,  bless  his 
name  I" 

"But  for  the  'Whosoever,'  I  should  have  despaired.  That  kept  me  from 
sinking.     I  rest  on  the  Rock." 

"The  more  I  am  saved,  the  more  it  seems  my  hunger  and  thirst  increase." 

Father  Coleman — "That's  a  good  sign,  sister.  Sick  people  haven't  much 
appetite.  It  is  the  healthy  and  active  who  get  hungry  and  must  have  suste- 
nance.    Bless  Grod,  there's  enough  for  all." 

Many  voices — "  Amen.     Bless  the  Lord  !" 

"I  magnify  the  grace  of  God  in  every  instance  where  I  see  the  once  poor, 
degraded  followers  of  vice  changed,  and  washed,  and  lifted  up  to  sit  in 
heavenly  places  in  Christ  Jesus." 

"Last  night  Brother  McDonald's  talk  helped  me.  I  never  understood  the 
simplicity  of  faith  before.  Why,  it  isn't  much,  after  all,  to  be  saved.  I 
believe,  and  he  saves  me.     Hallelujah!" 

"This  faith  brings  present  salvation  to  me  also.  Last  night  I  touched 
Him,  and  now  I'm  resting  at  the  cross — washing  in  the  crimson  tide." 

"  Yesterday  I  was  enabled  to  believe  that  Christ's  blood  cleansed  me.  This 
morning  I  have  no  doubt  on  the  subject.     Glory  to  Jesus !" 

"  It  was  painfully  discovered  to  me  yesterday,  under  the  Word  and  by  the 
Spirit,  that  roots  of  bitterness  were  remaining  in  me.  I  had  often  been 
powerfully  blessed,  but  this  took  every  prop  from  under  me.  In  my  tent  I 
looked  over  the  matter  calmly,  aad  then  made  a  full  consecration.  I  meant 
it,  and  He  blessed  me  so  that  I  had  to  shout  his  praise.  Oh,  I  know  He 
loves  me  and  saves  me  this  moment." 

"  I  came  here  all  the  way  from  Connecticut,  and  was  happy  when  I 
started;  became  happier  as  I  neared  this  glorious  place;  and  now  it  is  get- 
ting better  and  better  all  the  time.  I  shall  try  to  tell  them  when  I  go  home 
how  the  Lord  was  present  in  this  place." 

"  I  feel  ashamed — not  of  Jesus,  but  of  what  I  have  been,  and  what  I  have 
done  and  failed  in  doing.  0  how  recreant  I  have  been  in  His  service;  but 
He  pardons  my  past  unfaithfulness." 

"Jesus  comes^ie  fills  my  soul — 
Perfected  in  love  I  am  ; 
I  am  every  whit  made  whole, 
Glory,  glory  to  the  Lamb !" 


134  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

"I  have  three  little  boys  here,  and  I  believe  they  are  all  convicted;  pray 
that  they  may  every  one  be  converted  before  we  go  home."  (Sensation.) 
Brother  Stockton — 

"Oh,  if  there's  only  one  song  I  can  sing, 
When  in  his  beauty  I  see  the  great  King, 
This  shall  my  song  in  eternity  be. 
Oh,  what  a  wonder  that  Jesns  loves  me. 

"  I  am  so  glad  that  Jesus  loves  me, 
Jesus  loves  me,  Jesus  loves  me  , 
I  am  so  glad  that  Jesus  loves  me, 
Jesus  loves  even  me." 

"  I  cant't  tell  how  I  am  saved.  But  twenty-five  years  ago  the  Lord  put 
in  me  a  desire  for  purity,  and  gave  me  the  witness  that  I  was  fully  sanctified. 
I  have  made  but  poor  progress,  but  have  never  willingly  departed  from  this 
new  and  living  way." 

"The  first  camp-meeting  I  ever  attended  was  Manheim.  When  I  heard 
about  the  nature  and  necessity  of  this  heart  cleansing,  I  was  bewildered.  I 
did  not  know  exactly  where  I  stood,  but  the  blessed  Spirit  never  let  me  rest 
until  I  found  out  my  latitude.  Now  I  know  that  I  am  saved  from  the 
dominion  and  power  and  love  of  sin." 

"  I  was  surprised  at  many  things  I  heard  here  last  night  in  the  sermon 
and  exhortation.  The  brother  said  angels  wondered  at  us  that  we  don't 
believe  God.  This  is  strange  and  sadly  true.  Ever  since  that  day  in  the 
Garden  of  Eden,  it  seems  we  are  prone  to  believe  Satan  rather  than  our 
Heavenly  Father.  Why  is  this?  Our  sin,  how  deep  its  stains!  0  Lord, 
I  believe;  help  my  unbelief!" 

"  I  must  get  up  here  in  the  love  of  Jesus  to  say  he  sought  me  when  a 
stranger,  wandering  from  his  fold.  Now  I  know  he  saves  me.  It  is  not  a 
hope-so,  or  an  inference,  but  I  hnoio  it." 

"  I  was  a  poor  tavern  loafer  and  drunkard,  when  a  new  thought  came  into 
my  heart  to  look  upward  and  pray  to  be  saved.  I  found  in  reading  the 
blessed  Bible  there  was  hope  set  before  me,  and  I  thank  God  I  found  it  at 
the  cross.  I  heard  nothing  said  about  sanctification ;  but,  while  reading  the 
sixth  of  Romans — '  How  shall  we  that  are  dead  to  sin  live  any  longer 
therein  V — I  saw  God's  will.  A  dead  man  in  his  cofiin  cannot  sin,  because 
he  cannot  feel,  or  think,  or  speak;  so  the  Christian,  dead  with  Christ,  is 
dead  to  all  the  world,  and  I  asked  the  Lord  to  separate  me  entirely  from  it. 
He  saved  me  through  and  through." 

"  Please,  brethren,  allow  me  to  say  a  word.  I  was  raised  in  this  neighbor- 
hood, but  have  been  away  in  the  West  fifteen  years.  How  glad  I  am  to  be 
here,  near  the  place  of  my  birth,  and  the  equally  memorable  spot  of  my 
second  birth.     Oh,  my  heart  is  affected  and  full  of  love  by  reason  of  what  I 


A    MODERN    PENTECOST.  135 

see  and  hear  around  me.  My  old  friends  are  here  on  tlie  way  to  glory.  I, 
too,  have  good  hope  of  eternal  life,  and  I  expect  to  meet  you  all  in  that 
beautiful  world  on  high." 

Father  Baldwin — "  Like  one  of  old,  I  will  say  this  people  shall  be  my 
people,  and  their  God  my  God.  With  them  I  expect  to  live  and  die  and  be 
buried,  and  have  a  glorious  part  in  the  first  resurrection." 

"  Two  years  ago  I  was  cleansed.  I  say  this  to  the  honor  of  Jesus,  but  to 
my  own  discredit  I  must  say  I  failed  to  live  up  to  the  light  I  had,  and  fell 
into  great  darkness.  Yesterday  he  restored  unto  me  the  joy  of  his  salva- 
tion, and  the  light  returned.  Now,  by  the  help  of  God,  I  will  confess  it 
everywhere  " 

"  If  you  do,  brother,  your  path  will  shine  brighter  and  brighter." 

"  I  was  not  so  particular  in  coming  here  to  be  made  happy,  as  to  be  made 
radically  right.  I  ventured  last  night  to  step  out  on  the  Rock,  and  all  is  calm. 
I  rest  on  the  immutable  word  of  God." 

"  The  greatest  blessing  of  my  whole  life  came  to  me  just  here  last  night. 
It  seemed  as  if  I  felt  the  Holy  Ghost  burning  out  all  dross  from  my  soul." 

"  The  question  asked  in  the  Preachers'  Meeting  on  last  evening,  '  Is  your 
heart  pure  ?'  followed  me.  I  had  to  acknowledge  mine  was  not.  I  could 
not  doubt  but  that  it  might  be  made  pure  after  all  I  heard ;  so  I  began  to 
cry  like  David,  '  Create nvithin  me  a  clean  heart,  0  God.'  Now,  I  think  the 
work  is  done,  and  there  is  not  an  impure  thought  in  my  heart." 

"  I  was,  as  some  here  know,  a  tremendous  sinner,  but  my  case  was  not  be- 
yond the  skill  of  the  Great  Physician.     I  am  gloriously  saved." 

"I  want  to  leave  my  testimony.  Six  of  us  came  up  here  from  Fall  River, 
Mass.,  to  be  baptized  afresh.  We  need  this  baptism  at  home,  and  every  one 
of  us  has  been  blessed.  I  am  the  happiest  of  all.  We  take  the  first  train 
for  home — pray  for  us." 

Another  of  the  Fall  River  band  spoke — the  youngest  of  them.  He  had 
been  in  the  fountain — went  clear  under,  and  thought  he  was  happiest. 

Quite  a  joyful  time  was  had  in  pledging  these  dear  brethren  to  be  faithful 
to  Christ,  and  to  meet  them  on  the  shining  shore. 

"  Since  the  Lord  revealed  himself  to  me  as  a  Saviour  from  all  sin,  I  have 
been  enabled  to  acknowledge  him  in  all  my  ways,  and  confess  this  blessing 
everywhere." 

"  I  was  happy  all  day  yesterday,  and  I  know  if  I  keep  faith  as  active  to- 
day I  will  be  just  as  happy." 

"  I  shall  never  forget  yesterday.  My  chains  fell  ofi",  and  I  was  made  free 
i  n  Christ  Jesus." 

"While  the  stream  was  running  so  deep  and  free  last  evening,  I  trusted, 
and  it  cleansed  me." 


136  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

"Four years  ago  I  was  converted.     Now  I  feel  that  I  am  fully  saved." 

"  How  it  is  that  I  am  here,  seems  incomprehensible.  I  wanted  to  come, 
but  saw  no  way.  I  laid  the  matter  before  the  Lord,  and  he  has  brought  me 
here  to  testify — fully  saved." 

"Last  year  I  went  to  Urbana  the  wretchedest  man  to  be  found,  and  left 
that  place  one  of  the  happiest,  because  I  had  Jesus  in  my  heart.  I  came  on 
here  to  have  my  strength  renewed,  and  return  home  a  better  husband  and  a 
better  man." 

"Jesus  is  mighty  to  save  ;  for  he  saved  me,  and  took  out  of  my  nature  the 
craving  for  tobacco,  rum,  and  all  such  filthiness  of  the  flesh  and  spirit." 

A  brother  from  Washington,  D.  C,  and  about  to  return,  gave  his  testimony 
and  asked  prayer  that  God  might  bless  that  city  with  a  great  revival,  and  fill 
the  new  church  with  which  he  was  connected,  (Hamline,)  with  full  salvation 
and  a  holy  people.  "Jesus,"  said  he,  "  is  with  us;  and  we  intend  to  stand 
up  for  this  great  doctrine." 

Bro.  McLean  stated  that  he  had  entered  into  a  new  and  very  solumn  en- 
gagement to  be  as  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost  and  faith  as  was  Stephen  of  old. 
He  did  not  aspire  to  the  intellectual  rank  of  Stephen,  but  his  faith.  "  I  am 
believing  to  be  filled  with  faith  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  whatever  it  may  lead 
me  to;  and  there  is  a  sweetness  about  the  thought  of  having  this  endowment, 
I  never  knew  before.  Glory  be  to  the  Father,  and  to  the  Son,  and  to  the 
Holy  Ghost!" 

Rev.  Mr.  White  was  daily  learning  more  about  this  wondrous  way  of  love 
and  liberty.  He  dated  his  entire  sanctification  two  years  ago  ;  but  this  meet- 
ing would  be  to  him  the  date  of  many  new  sensations  of  delight.  He  had 
not  attached  much  importance  to  the  witness  of  the  Spirit  before;  now  he 
saw  this  in  a  clearer  light,  and,  like  Bro.  McLean,  he  was  ready  for  whatever 
God  might  appoint,  and  was  being  filled  with  this  glorious  salvation. 

"  I  came  here,"  said  another,  "  to  be  filled  ;  not  that  I  was  empty  before — 
for  I  have  had  a  good  time  all  along.  There  have  been  periods  when  the 
Spirit  came  in  unusual  power  to  my  heart.  While  Dr.  Lowrey  was  preaching 
the  other  day,  I  felt  the  first  ground  swell.  Then  while  Bro.  Boole  showed 
us  how  willing  God  was  to  make  something  out  of  the  feeblest,  I  put  myself 
right  into  the  hands  of  God  to  be  used  for  his  glory.  All  is  serenely  sweet 
now." 

"  I  feel  the  better,"  said  a  preacher,  "  for  going  down  there  (to  the  altar) 
and  making  a  new  consecration.     My  soul  is  strengthened  out  of  Zion." 

A  brother  rose  to  ask  for  help,  having  to  leave  the  ground  this  morning. 
He  stated  his  exercises  of  mind  in  entering  into  covenant  the  evening  be. 
fore.  His  diSiculties  were  explained,  and,  we  trust,  he  went  on  his  way  re- 
joicing. 


A   MODERN  PENTECOST.  137 

"  Bro.  Barker's  religion,"  he  said,  "  was  tlie  simplest  and  sweetest  thing  in 
the  universe — it  was  love,  only  love — all  love."  The  meeting  closed  by  ask- 
ing and  answering  questions,  and  a  final  doxology. 


8  o'clock  services — MONDAY. 

As  the  people  resumed  the  morning  meeting  in  the  Tabernacle,  there  was 
first  a  season  of  deep,  earnest  pleading  with  Grod. 

"  I  know  just  what  I  want,  and  that  is  just  what  I  am  going  to  ask,  and 
have,"  said  the  minister  who  led  the  devotions!  "Now  each  for  himself  and 
herself — pray." 

It  is  difiicult  to  attempt  a  descriptive  sketch  of  scenes  like  this.  The  ob- 
vious duty  of  every  one  present  is,  instead  of  gazing  about,  or  trying  to  mea- 
sure the  amount  of  influence  prevailing,  to  close  the  eyes  and  shut  out  all 
considerations  but  one — 

"  Come  Holy  Spirit,  heavenly  Dove, 
With  all  thy  quickening  powers  ; 
Come  shed  abroad  a  Saviour's  love, 
And  that  shall  kindle  ours." 

Amanda  Smith  had  the  spirit  of  prayer,  and  her  faith  took  hold  of  "  the 
horns  of  the  altar."  With  singular  adaptatioQ  she  put  herself  in  the  place  of 
the  humblest,  prayed  on  and.  up  through  all  intervening  experiences  ^until 
the  petition  was  lost  in  "  realizing  light,"  and  turned  to  thanks  and  blessing, 
and  honor,  and  glory,  unto  "  Him  who  loved  us  and  washed  us  in  his  own 
blood." 

"  Now  we  give  those  who  have  just  been  blessed,  the  first  chance  to 
speak." 

A  sister — "  I  am  just  now  receiving  the  things  I  desired  when  I  prayed. 
He  is  saving  me." 

A  brother — "  The  power  is  coming  on  me.  I  want  all  I  can  hold,  for  I 
have  ways  in  which  to  use  it  at  home." 

A  sister — "  I  once  lost  the  power  and  joy  because  I  gave  up  working  for 
Jesus.  Then  an  uneasy  feeling  came  over  me,  and  the  next  step  was  con- 
demnation. I  was  quite  disconsolate.  Hearing  of  this  meeting,  hope  sprang 
up  that  I  would  regain  what  I  lost,  and  I  have.  O  how  gladly  will  I  speak 
and  work  for  such  a  Saviour,  if  spared  to  reach  my  home  once  more."  Her 
home  is  Harrisburg. 

"  I  don't  feel  any  inclination  to  doubt  God ;  but  somehow  I  am  slow  to  be- 
lieve.    My  prayer  is — '  Lord  increase  my  faith.'  " 

"You  needn't  pray  that  way,  brother,"  said  the  leader;  "  for  he  won't  do  it 
until  you  put  in  exercise  what  faith  you  have." 


138  SIXTEENTH   NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING, 

MONDAY  MORNING. 
SERMON  BY  REV.  EDGxiR  M.  LEVY,  D.  D.,  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


'•  And  the  very  God  of  Peace  sanctify  you  wholly  ;  and  Ipray  God  your  whole 
spirit,  and  soul,  and  body,  be  preserved  blameless  unto  the  coming  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Faithful  is  he  that  calleth  you,  loho  also  will  do  it." 
1  Thess.5:  23. 

The  doctrine  of  justification  by  faitli  alone,  without  the  deeds  of  the  law, 
is  a  fundamental  article  of  the  Christian  faith,  and  occupies,  as  it  ever  should 
do,  a  prominent  place  in  our  pulpit  discourses.  Luther  did  not  use  extra  va- 
gant  language  when  he  said,  that  the  manner  in  which  this  doctrine  was  held 
would  ever  be  the  sign  of  a  standing  or  a  falling  Church. 

Justification  by  faith  lies  truly  at  the  foundation  of  our  Christian  life.  It 
is  the  beginning  of  all  true  fellowship  with  God,  and  it  secures  to  us  all  that 
God  has  promised  to  his  children.  It  lies  also  at  the  root  of  all  real  honor  to 
Christ's  atoning  work,  of  all  real  abiding  peace  of  conscience,  of  all  real  ser- 
vice of  God. 

But  while  we  regard  justification  by  faith  of  vital  importance,  we  must  not 
overlook  the  equally  important  doctrine  of  sanctification  by  faith.  If  justifi- 
cation be  the  root  of  this  heavenly  plant — the  life  of  God  in  the  soul — sanc- 
tification is  the  beautiful  blossom  and  the  delicious  fruit.  Justification  is  that 
sovereign  act  by  which  God,  for  the  sake  of  his  worthy  Son,  declares  the  sin- 
ner who  believes,  absolved  from  all  sin,  and  entitled  to  all  the  righteousness 
of  Christ.  Sanctification  is  that  act  of  the  blessed  Spirit  by  which  the  be- 
liever is  made  holy. 

It  is  of  great  importance  to  distinguish  the  difiierence  between  sanctification 
and  justification. 

"Justification,"  says  that  eminent  man  of  God,  J.  Angel  James,  "  is  the 
work  of  Christ  for  us — Sanctification  is  the  work  of  the  Spirit  in  us." 

"Sanctification,"  says  Dr,  Scott,  "is  to  have  soul,  body  and  spirit,  every 
sense,  member,  organ  and  faculty,  completely  purified  and  devoted  to  the  ser- 
vice of  God." 

In  a  measure  and  to  a  certain  extent,  the  Christain  is  sanctified  when  he 
is  converted.  He  is  set  apart  for  God.  He  is  made  a  new  creature  in  Christ 
Jesus.  He  has  divine  life  created  in  his  soul  by  the  operation  of  the  Holy 
Ghost.  The  two,  justification  and  sanctification,  different  in  their  nature,  are 
yet  closely  ujiited.  He  that  is  justified  has  new  impulses,  new  tastes,  new 
desires.  Clothed  upon  with  the  righteousness  of  Christ,  he  has  a  beauty  he 
never  had  before.  He  no  longer  "lives  unto  himself"  "His  life  is  hid 
with  Christ  in  God."  He  now  turns  away  disgusted  from  those  pleasures, 
objects,  associations,  in  which  he  once  delighted.     He  now  finds  happiness 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  139 

in  those  acts  of  worship,  and  meditation,  and  prayer,  and  praise,  which  he 
once  loathed.  With  the  great  apostle  he  says  :  "  What  things  were  gain  to 
me,  those  things  I  counted  loss  for  Christ."  "  Yea,  doubtless,  and  I  count  all 
things  but  loss  for  the  knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus  my  Lord." 

But  this  condition  of  the  believer,  "accepted  in  the  Beloved,"  is  most 
generally  accompanied  with  incompleteness  of  sanctification.  This  is  implied 
in  the  text.  "  And  the  very  God  of  peace  sanctify  you  wholly."  In  another 
passage  the  apostle  thus  writes  :  "  Having  therefore,  these  promises,  dearly  be- 
loved, let  us  cleanse  ourselves  from  all  filthiness  of  the  flesh  and  spirit,  perfec- 
ting holiness  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord."  The  apostle  admits,  you  perceive, 
that  they  were  justified  and  renewed,  for  he  calls  them  "  dearly  beloved,"  un- 
to whom  Grod  had  given  many  precious  promises,  and  yet  declares  that  they 
had  need  of  cleansing  from  filthiness  of  the  flesh  and  spirit,  and  to  be  made 
perfect  in  holiness. 

And  this  is  in  harmony  with  the  experience  of  all  Christians  in  all  ages  of 
the  Church.  At  the  time  of  conversion,  it  is  very  easy  for  the  soul  to  im- 
agine that  sin  is  not  only  forgiven,  but  is  entirely  destroyed.  The  change  is 
so  great,  even  as  "  from  death  unto  life,"  that  the  work  of  moral  renovation 
seems  perfect.  But  very  soon  the  workings  of  the  old  man  are  experienced, 
and  pride,  envy,  uncharitableness,  unbelief,  discontent,  impatience,  sloth  and 
impurity  are  daily  made  manifest,  bringing  us  into  bondage  again  to  the  law 
of  sin  and  death,  and  extorting  ever  and  anon  the  bitter  cry — "Oh  wretched 
man  that  I  am,  who  shall  deliver  me  from  the  body  of  this  death  ?" 

The  penitent,  convicted  of  his  sins,  sought  pardon  from  Grod.  The  believer, 
convicted  of  his  guilt,  sighs  for  inward  purity.  He  wants  the  roots  of  sin 
destroyed,  not  merely  to  have  its  branches  lopped  ofi" ;  he  longs  to  have  the 
old  man  slain,  not  merely  wounded.  He  prays  not  to  have  the  disease  mod- 
ified, but  entirely  eradicated — not  to  gain  an  advantage  occasionally  over 
Satan,  but  to  have  him  under  his  feet  at  all  times.  The  works  of  the  devil 
he  does  not  wish  to  have  mended,  but  utterly  destroyed.  He  yearns  for  per- 
fect love,  that  he  may  "  serve  God  without  fear  in  holiness  and  righteousness 
all  the  days  of  his  life." 

Now  this  is  what  sanctification  accomplishes.  To  the  eye  of  sense  it  would 
indeed  seem  impossible,  that  hearts  so  base,  so  dead,  so  polluted,  wayward, 
could  be  purified  and  sanctified,  and  "  preserved  blameless,"  moment  by  mo- 
ment, unto  the  coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  But  "  all  things  are  pos- 
sible with  God,"  and  "all  things  are  possible  with  him  that  believeth."  The 
apostles  would  never  have  prayed  for  the  accomplishment  of  an  impossible 
thing ;  neither  does  God  excite  a  hope  which  he  is  not  able  and  ready  to  ful- 
fill, or  create  a  hunger  in  the  soul  which  he  cannot  more  than  satisfy.  As 
Faber  beautifully  expressed  it — 

"  There's  not  a  craving  in  the  mind, 
Thou  dost  not  meet  and  still ; 
There's  not  a  wish  the  heart  can  have 
Which  Thou  dost  not  fulfill." 

Permit  me,  men  and  brethren,  to  speak  to  you  in  all  simplicity, — 

First,  of  the  Author  of  sanctification. 

Secondly,  of  the  instrumental  cause  of  sanctification. 

Thirdly,  of  the  great  importance  of  sanctification. 


140  SIXTEENTH   NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

1.  The  Author  or  tlie  originating  cause  of  sanctification.  "  The  very  God 
of  peace  sanctify  you  wholly."  The  sanctification  of  the  believer  is  attrib- 
uted to  all  three  persons  of  the  adorable  Trinity.  In  Jude  we  are  said  to 
be  "  sanctified  by  God  the  Father."  In  First  Corinthians  we  are  said  to  be 
"  sanctified  in  Christ  Jesus ;"  and  in  First  Peter  our  sanctification  is  said  to 
be  through  the  Iloii/  Spirit.  God,  the  Father,  chooses  us,  calls  us,  separates 
us  unto  himself  He  is  the  originating  cause  of  sanctification.  God,  the 
Son,  by  his  precious  blood,  cleanseth  us  from  sin,  and  God,  the  Holy  Ghost, 
applies  the  wonderful  efficacy  of  the  blood  to  our  moral  purification.  "  0 
the  depths  of  the  riches  of  the  wisdom  and  of  knowledge  of  God !" 

"Suppose,"  says  Spurgeon,  "  to  put  it  as  plainly  as  we  can,  there  is  a  gar- 
ment which  needs  to  be  washed.  Here  is  a  person  to  wash  it,  and  there  is  a 
bath  in  which  it  is  to  be  washed — the  person  is  the  Holy  Ghost,  but  the  bath 
is  the  precious  blood  of  Christ.  It  is  strictly  correct  to  speak  of  the  person 
cleansing,  as  being  the  sanctifier;  it  is  quite  as  accurate  to  speak  of  that 
which  constitutes  the  bath,  and  which  makes  it  clean,  as  being  the  sanctifier 
too.  Now,  the  Spirit  of  God  sanctifies  us,  he  works  effectively ;  but  he  sanc- 
tifies us  through  the  blood  of  Christ,  through  the  water  which  flows  with  the 
blood  from  Christ's  smitten  side.  To  repeat  my  illustration,  here  is  a  gar- 
ment which  is  black ;  a  fuller,  in  order  to  make  it  white,  uses  nitre  and  soap, 
both  the  fuller  and  the  soap  are  cleansers;  so  both  the  Holy  Spirit  and  the 
atonement  of  Christ  are  sanctifiers."  "We  delight  to  magnify,"  says  the 
same  great  preacher,  "the  work  of  Christ  for  us,  but  we  must  not  depreciate 
the  work  of  the  blessed  Spirit  in  us.  He  finds  us  lepers,  and  to  make  us  clean 
he  dips  the  hyssop  of  faith  in  the  precious  blood  of  Christ,  and  sprinkles  it 
upon  us,  and  we  are  clean.  There  is  a  mysterious  efiicacy  in  the  blood  of 
Christ,  not  only  to  make  satisfaction  for  sin,  but  to  work  the  death  of  sin. 
The  blood  appears  before  God,  and  he  is  well  pleased  it  falls  on  us — lusts 
wither,  and. old  corruptions  feel  the  death  blow." 

This  is  the  way  God  sanctifies  us.  It  is  through  the  blood  that  he 
makes  us  "  partakers  of  his  holiness."  It  is  by  this  blood  that  he  has  cre- 
ated over  again  his  image  that  was  effaced.  There  is  no  washing  away  of 
iniquity,  except  in  this  precious  blood.  To  this  fountain  God  calls  the  sin- 
stained  soul,  that  he  may  wash  it  "  whiter  than  snow."  St.  Peter  speaks  of 
us  as  "elect  according  to  the  foreknowledge  of  God  the  Father,  unto  sancti- 
fication of  the  Spirit,  unto  obedience  and  sprinkling  of  the  blood  of  Jesus 
Christ."  St.  John  says  :  "  The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  his  Son  cleanseth  us 
from  all  sin." 

Hence  we  sing,  perhaps  more  frequently  than  we  do  any  other  strain, — 

"My  dying  Saviour,  and  my  God, 
Fountain  for  guilt  and  sin, 
Sprinkle  me  ever  with  thy  blood, 
And  cleanse  and  keep  me  clean.  ^ 

"  Wash  me,  aud  make  mo  thus  thine  own, 
Wash  ma,  and  mine  thou  art; 
Wash  me,  but  not  ray  fuet  alone, — 
My  hands,  my  head,  my  heart." 

2.  We  notice  the  instrumental  cause  of  our  sanctification.  As  in  justifi- 
cation, so  in  sanctification,  faith  is  the  instrumental  cause.     In  the  case  of 


A   MODERN  PENTECOST.  141 

justification,  the  Papist  contends  that  faith  alone  is  not  sufficient, — that  we 
grow  into  a  state  of  justification  by  means  of  works.  But  the  Protestant 
says,  "Nay,  by  the  deeds  of  the  law  can  no  man  be  justified."  ''Being  justi- 
fied by  faith,  we  have  peace  with  God  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 
Grood  works  can  only  be  the  fruit  of  faith.  "  With  the  heart  man  believeth 
unto  righteousness, — i.e.  unto  justification.  And  here  lies  the  great  battle- 
field on  which  the  true  Church  of  Christ  contends  with  the  mighty  Babylon. 
Luther,  as  we  have  already  quoted,  said  that  justification  by  faith  only  was 
the  article  of  a  standing  or  a  falling  Church. 

Alphonsus  Liquori,  in  his  history  of  the  Council  of  Trent,  says  that  this 
doctrine  was  "the  trunk  whence  almost  all  the  errors  of  the  modern  heretics 
sprung."  He  was  right;  for  if  the  blood  of  Christ,  applied  through  faith, 
cleanses  from  all  sin,  then  farewell  to  penances,  pilgrimages,  purgatory, 
indulgences,  absolutions  and  masses.  This  is  emphatically  true.  Just  as 
this  doctrine  is  held  and  prominently  presented  will  you  find  real  spirituality, 
real  living  power.  In  its  absence  you  will  have  forms  and  ceremonies,  ignor- 
ance, superstition  and  death. 

The  same  truth  applies  to  sanctification.  The  real  difficulty  we  find  in 
presenting  the  salvation  of  Grod  to  the  inquirer,  and  which  hinders  his  con- 
version, is  this  way  of  faith.  We  cannot  make  him  see  it  is  of  faith,  and  of 
faith  only.  Hence  his  groans,  his  tears,  his  weary  efi'orts  to  mend  his  life, 
and,  in  some  measure,  fit  himself  for  God's  acceptance.  When  at  last  the 
way  %f  faith  is  revealed  to  him  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  the  work  is  done,  the 
weary  one  is  at  rest,  the  wretched  one  has  peace  with  God. 

Exactly  so  is  it  with  sanctification.  Works  have  no  more  to  do  with  the 
sanctifying  of  the  soul,  than  they  have  with  the  justifying  of  the  soul.  Faith 
must  be  the  instrumental  cause  in  the  one  as  well  as  in  the  other.  If  it  be 
by  faith,  then  it  is  no  more  of  works.  The  provision  for  our  sanctification 
has  been  made,  and  faith  must  receive  it.  Faith  is  the  hand  by  which 
we  grasp  the  Saviour,  making  him,  with  all  his  wealth  and  all  his  righteous- 
ness our  own ;  so  that  in  having  Mm,  we  become  both  righteous  and  rich.  Faith 
is  the  tendril  by  which  the'branch  of  the  vine  clings  around  their  all-support- 
ing stem  ;  it  is  the  system  of  nei'ves  by  which  all  the  parts  of  the  body  are 
conscio'\isly  connected  with  the  head.  It  is  the  great  artery — the  great  aorta 
hj  which  from  the  heart  life  is  conveyed ;  so  that  by  its  habitual  action  the 
very  lowest  extremities  are  continually  invigorated  and  warmed.  If  it  be  of 
faith,  then  it  must  be  instantaneous.  Works  require  time  for  their  execution. 
Faith,  on  the  contrary,  is  an  act  of  the  soul.  In  a  moment  the  soul,  by  the 
exercise  of  faith,  can  "  wash  and  be  clean." 

3.  We  were  to  notice,  thirdly,  the  importance  of  this  doctrine  of  santifica- 
tion. 

The  importance  of  this  work  of  divine  grace  will  be  seen  if  we  consider — 

First,  that  the  sanctification  of  the  believer  is  the  one  grand  design  of  our 
salvation.  I  open  the  Bible  and  I  read :  "  For  whom  he  did  foreknow,  he 
also  did  predestinate  to  be  conformed  to  the  image  of  his  Son." 

"  For  we  are  his  workmanship,  created  in  Christ  Jesus  unto  good  icorks, 
which  God  hath  before  ordained  that  we  should  walk  in  them." 

I  moreover  discover  that  the  purpose,  the  sovereign  and  eternal  purpose  of 
God,  so  connects  our  santification  with  the  death  of  Christ,  as  to  make  the 
former  one  great  end  for  which  the  latter  was  endured.     In   Ephesians  we 


142  SIXTEENTH   NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETINQ. 

I 

read:  "  Christ  also  loved  the  Church  and  gave  himself  for  it,  that  he  might 
sanctify  and  cleanse  it  with  the  washing  of  water  by  the  word."  In  St. 
Paul's  epistle  to  Titus  we  also  read  :  "  Who  gave  himself  for  us  that  he 
might  redeem  us  from  all  iniquity,  and  purify  unto  himself  a  peculiar  people, 
zealous  of  good  works." 

We  are  further  taught  that  to  this  sanctification  we  have  been  called  by  di- 
vine grace.  How  beautifully  does  the  apostle  set  this  before  us  in  the  com- 
mencement of  some  of  his  epistles  !  Pie  writes  to  all  that  are  in  Home,  "  Be- 
loved of  God,  called  to  be  saints  " — or  holy  ones.  And,  "  Unto  the  Church  of 
God  which  is  at  Corinth,  to  them  that  are  sanctified  in  Christ  Jesus,  called  to 
be  saints." 

Thus  brethren,  the  word  of  God  teaches,  in  no  unequivocal  terms,  that  God's 
everlasting  love  has  been  fixed  on  us,  and  his  Son  sent  to  die  for  us,  and  his 
Spirit  to  call  us  from  our  apostate  state,  not  only  that  we  may  be  delivered  from 
the  punishment  due  to  sin,  but  that  sin  may  be  destroyed.  "  Deliverance  from 
sin,"  says  Knapp  in  his  "  Christian  Theology,"  "  belongs  as  really  to  the  re- 
demption of  Christ  as  deliverance  from  punishment.  If  Christ  had  not  shown 
us  by  what  means  this  deliverance  may  be  secured,  his  work  of  redemption 
would  have  been  incomplete,  and  his  atonement  in  vain." 

2.  The  importance  of  sanctification  may  be  seen  by  a  consideration  of  the 
holiness  of  God. 

God  is  revealed  to  us  as  necessarily  holy, — as  the  source  of  all  holiness 
wherever  it  exists.  His  displeasure  toward  sin  has  been  manifestedin  the 
most  expressive  and  awful  manner.  We  are  assured  that  he  is  of  purer  eyes 
than  to  behold  iniquity  with  either  pleasure  or  indifference,  and  that  nothing 
that  is  unholy  shall  ever  stand  before  him.  Revelation  also  informs  us  that 
when  God  proposed  to  save  sinners,  so  directly  was  sin  opposed  to  his  holi- 
ness, that,  before  any  hope  of  salvation  could  be  cherished,  or  any  offer  of 
mercy  made  to  man,  his  only  begotten  Sou  must  become  the  sinner's  surety, 
and,  by  dying  in  his  stead,  endure  the  penalty  of  the  broken  law,  satisfy  the 
claims  of  offended  justice,  and  proclaim  th§  purity  of  the  divine  character  to 
every  province  and  subject  of  the  divine  dominions. 

3.  The  importance  of  sanctification  is  evident  from  the  fact  that  the  word 
of  God  sets  before  us  the  life  of  him  who  "  was  holy,  harmless,  undefiled  and 
separate  from  sinners,"  as  the  great  pattern  of  our  lives. 

Throughout  the  whole  of  his  history  he  "  did  no  sin,  neither  was  guile  found 
in  his  mouth."  Whether  he  had  to  suffer  the  contradiction  of  sinners  against 
himself,  or  endure  the  unfaithfulness  of  his  disciples — whether  living  or  dying, 
the  same  purity  of  character,  and  the  same  steady  obedience  to  the  divine  will 
were  always  manifest.  Dwell,  brethren,  on  the  life  of  your  Master  as  recorded 
in  the  Gospels.  Go  with  him  to  the  scenes  of  mirth,  and  thence  to  the  abodes 
of  sorrow.  Learn  how  he  conducts  himself  as  a  son,  a  brother,  a  friend,  and 
as  a  citizen.  In  every  circumstance  and  station  of  life  watch  him,  and  then 
*'  purify  yourselves,  even  as  he  is  pure,"  for  he  has  set  us  an  example  that  wo 
should  follow  in  his  steps.  Upon  nothing  short  of  this  does  the  word  of  God 
insist.  No  feature  in  the  character  of  Jusus  must  be  wanting  in  the  Christian. 
"  Let  this  mind  be  in  you  which  was  also  in  Jesus  Christ."  "  If  any  man  have 
not  the  spirit  of  Christ,  he  is  none  of  his." 

4.  Sanctification  is  manifestly  important,  because  holiness  and  usefulness  are 
closely  associated.     It  is  not  intellect,  however  brilliant  ;  it  is  not  genius,  how- 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  143 

ever  wonderful ;  it  is  not  eloquence,  however  captivating,  that  will  accomplish 
the  most  good  in  our  world.  Simple  goodness,  holiness  of  life,  and  entire  con- 
secration will  yield  a  power  for  God  with  which  genius  and  education  cannot 
compete.  The  men  who  have  cleansed  the  moral  atmosphere  of  society,  who 
have  subdued  the  opposition  of  wicked  men,  who  have  reclaimed  the  wandering 
and  saved  the  lost,  were  men  of  holiness.  All  experience  teaches  that  holiness 
and  success  are  linked  together.  There  may  be  exceptions  ;  but  this  is  the  rule. 
Thousands  of  witnesses  may  be  summoned  to  show  "  whom  God  sanctifies  fur 
his  work,  him  he  also  glorifies  with  success." 

5.  We  may  judge  of  the  great  importance  of  sanctification  from  the  fact  that 
Jiollness  and  prevalency  in  prayer  are  closely  united. 

Prayer  is  prevalent  with  God  just  in  proportion  as  we  are  sanctified.  It  is 
the  "  effectual  fervent  prayer  of  the  righteous  man  that  availeth  much."  "  If 
I  regard  iniquity  in  my  heart,  the  Lord  will  not  hear  me,''  cries  the  heaven- 
taught  Psalmist,  and  it  is  the  almost  universal  conclusion  that  "  God  heareth 
not  sinners,  but  if  any  man  be  a  worshiper  of  God,  and  doeth  his  will,  him 
God  heareth."  "  The  hearing  of  prayer  is  promised  to  the  widest  extent,  but 
nevertheless  it  has  its  limitation,  in  the  fact  that  only  such  prayer  is  spoken  of 
as  proceeds  from  inmost  unison  with  Christ."  (Tholuck.)  Hence,  our  Lord 
says  :  "  If  ye  abide  in  me,  and  my  words  abide  in  you,  ye  shall  ask  what  ye  will, 
and  it  shall  be  done  unto  you  ;"  and  bearing  this  condition  in  mind,  the  beloved 
disciple  writes :  "And  whatsoever  we  ask,  we  receive  of  him,  because  we  keep 
his  commandments,  and  do  these  things  that  are  pleasing  in  his  sight" — (1  John 
3:  22.)  To  have  power  with  God  in  prayer,  talent  is  not  needed  ;  eloquence  is 
not  required  ;  forms  and  ceremonies,  times  and  seasons,  are  not  necessary ;  but 
a  holy  heart  is  absolutely  essential.  "  Having,  therefore,  boldness  to  enter  into 
the  holiest  by  the  blood  of  Jesus,  by  a  new'  and  living  way,  which  he  hath  con- 
secrated for  us  through  the  vail,  (that  is  to  say  his  flesh,)  and  having  a  high 
priest  over  the  house  of  God,  let  us  draw  near  with  a  true  heart,  in  full  assur- 
ance of  faith,  having  our  hearts  sprinkled  from  an  evil  conscience,  and  our 
bodies  washed  with  pure  water." 

6.  The  importance  of  sanctification  may  be  seen  from  the  happiness  it  im- 
parts. God  is  called  "  the  blessed  God."  He  is  happy  because  he  is  holy. 
The  angels  are  everywhere  represented  as  being  filled  with  pleasure,  with  holy 
ecstacy  and  burning  zeal.  They  are  happy  because  they  are  holy.  Holiness 
must  always  be  a  joy-giving  principle ;  and  yet  thousands  of  Christians  are  not 
happy.  Oh,  how  many  are  cold,  spiritless  and  lukewarm  without  knowing  any- 
thing of  that  spiritual,  holy  joy  which  comes  of  a  close  walk  with  God  !  How 
many  are  daily  undergoing  a  slow  process  of  corrosion,  as  it  were,  for  the  want 
of  a  full  assurance  of  faith  !  They  live  on — a  spiritless,  uninfluential  life,  fret- 
ting themselves  and  fretting  othere,  especially  those  whom  they  are  most  strongly 
bound  to  soothe,  and  cheer,  and  animate,.  There  are  thousands  of  homes 
throughout  our  land  that  are  clouded  with  sadness,  filled  with  discontent,  alien- 
ation, and  strife,  each  one  of  which  might  be  transformed  into  a  paradise  of 
peace,  and  love,  and  beauty,  by  the  introduction  of  this  grace  of  sanctification. 

7.  The  importance  of  sanctification  may  be  further  argued  from  the  consider- 
ation that  it  is  the  only  bond  of  Christian  unions 

A  variety  of  plans  have  been  suggested  by  great  and  good  men,  to  bring  to- 
gether and  unite  the  different  denominations  of  evangelical  believers :  but  they 
have  all  failed.     The  reason  for  these  mortifying  failures  does  not  grow  out  of 


144  SIXTEENTH   NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

the  undesirableness  of  Christian  union,  but  from  the  impossibility  of  creatino- 
uniformity  in  the  expression  of  belief  in  the  constitution  of  the  Church,  and  in 
the  administration  of  the  ordinances. 

At  last  we  have  discovered  a  basis  for  Christian  unity.  The  sanctification  of 
believers  of  every  name,  create  a  unity  in  the  great  Christian  brotherhood,  such 
as  no  creed  has  ever  been  able  to  accomplish.  Here,  in  this  great  National 
Camp-meeting,  we  have  such  an  exhibition  of  Christian  unity  as  thrills  one's 
heart  to  behold.  A  unity  not  in  ordinances ;  a  unity  not  in  Church  govern- 
ment ;  a  unity  not  in  the  forms  of  worship ;  a  unity  not  in  the  mere  letter  of 
the  creed — but  in  something  sweeter,  dearer,  and  more  enduring  than  these : 
the  washing  of  the  blood  of  Christ  and  the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  As  it 
is  the  nature  of  sin  to  separate,  disintegrate  and  repel,  it  is  nature  of  holiness  to 
unite,  adjust  and  harmmiza.     We  have  found  it  to  be  so.     Hallelujah! 

"  We  are  one  in  Christ  below, 
In  hope  and  consolation  ; 
Though  garb  and  colors  show 
Shadows  of  variation." 

8.  The  importance  of  sanctification  is  manifest  from  the  fict  that  holiness  is 
always  set  before  us  as  an  essential  qualification  to  the  enjoyment  of  heaven. 

A  title  to  this  inheritance,  a  meetness  of  personal  character,  the  word  of  God 
assures  us,  is  absolutely  required  ere  we  can  appreciate  its  excellency,  engage  in 
its  duties,  or  enjoy  its  blessedness.  It  represents  heaven  as  the  "  holy  city." — 
the  "  inheritance  undefiled,"  its  inhabitants  as  clothed  with  white  robes,  and  as 
praising  God  because  he  is  holy ;  and  it  positively  and  in  the  most  unqualified 
manner  asserts  that  "without  holiness  no  man  shall  see  the  Lord.''  We  may 
fiind  admission  into  heaven  as  the  poor  and  the  despised,  the  neglected  and  the 
persecuted,  but  we  cannot  enter  heaven  without  holiness.  Our  garments  must 
be  white  and  shining,  or  the  gates  will  not  open  to  receive  us. 

Thus,  men  and  brethren,  the  sanctification  of  the  believer  is  the  one  grand 
end  of  salvation.  It  entered  into  the  counsels  of  the  Holy  Trinity  from  all 
eternity.  It  is  intimately  connected  with  the  fore-ordination  of  God.  It  is  the 
object  for  which  the  Christian  is  called,  justified  and  pardoned.  "  For  what 
would  be  our  justification,"  says  Mr.  James,  "  what  would  be  the  robe  of  Christ's 
righteousness  to  us  without  the  holy  nature,  but  the  vestment  of  scarlet  and 
gold  thrown  over  a  body  affected  with  leprosy  ?"  "  What  is  it,"  asks  another, 
"but  the  dressing  an  Ethiopian  in  white  garments  and  calling  him  white  ?" 
No,  this  is  not  God's  method.  The  purpose  of  God  in  salvation  extends  far 
beyond  this.  God's  creating  purpose  is  gained  ;  his  restoring  purpose  is  ful- 
filled ;  the  redeeming  love  ot  Christ  is  glorified ;  the  sanctifying  work  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  is  magnified,  when  his  people  are  made  holy.  Cato  is  said  to  have 
commenced  all  his  speeches  in  the  lloman  Senate  with  these  words  :  "  Dclenda 
est  Carthago^^'  Carthage  must  be  destroyed.  Sin  is  the  Christian's  Carthage  ; 
it  is  ever  making  war  against  him,  ever  impeding  his  progress,  and  imperiling 
his  .safety.  God  says  "  It  must  be  destroyed."  I  hear  it  whispered  by  the 
sighing  winds  in  Eden's  blighted  bowers, — "  Sin  must  be  destroyed  ;"  I  hear  it 
murmured  by  the  side  of  Abel's  altar, — "  Sin  must  be  destroyed ;"  I  hear  it 
thundered  out  from  the  blazing  Mount  of  Sinai, — "  Sin  must  be  destroyed;"  I 
hear  it  sobbed  out  from  the  quivering  lips  of  Calvary's  victim, — "  Sin  must  be 
destroyed ;"  I  hear  an  apostle  enunciating  it, — "  Likewise  reckon  ye  also  your- 


A   MODERN  PENTECOST.  145 

selves  to  be  dead  indeed  unto  sin,  but  alive  unto  God,througb  Jesus  Christ  our 
Lord."  Amen !  my  soul  responds,  Amen  !  Here  let  sin  be  slain.  Here,  in  this 
great  congregation,  let  sin  die  within  my  heart.  Here,  0  Lord,  I  present  unto 
thee  myself;  my  soul  and  my  body,  to  be  a  reasonable,  holy  and  living  sacrifice 
unto  thee  forever. 

Brother,  "It  is  the  will  of  God,  even  your  sanctification."  It  is  the  aim  of 
the  Holy  Spirit  to  do  far  more  for  you  than  merely  to  save  you  from  hell.  He 
aims  to  sanctify  your  soul  to  such  a  degree  that  you  shall  be  lovely  in  life,  gen- 
tle in  disposition,  humble  in  mind,  pure  in  heart,  and  filled  with  all  the  fruits  of 
holiness ;  loving  holiness,  living  holiness,  breathing  holiness,  thinking  h(jliiiess, 
speaking  holiness ;  and  then — when  time  is  no  more — to  raise  your  body  from 
the  sleep  of  the  tomb,  and  make  it  like  the  glorious  body  of  your  Lord  and 
Saviour.  Brother  do  you  believe  this  to  be  the  will  of  God  concerning  you  ? 
Do  you  believe  to-day  that  Christ  is  a  Saviour  "  able  to  save  to  the  uttermost 
all  that  come  unto  God  by  him?"  Then  why  not  come  and  trust  him?  Why 
be  satisfied  with  any  experience  that  does  not  secure  holiness  of  heart  ?  If  you 
have  not  this,  come,  I  beseech  you,  to  the  fountain  to-day.  It  was  opened  for 
sin  and  uncleanness.     It  was  opened  for  you. 


THE  PRAYER  MEETING. 

Rev.  L.  R.  Dunn  came  forward,  as  the  Dr.  closed  his  tender  and  powerful 
appeal,  saying:  "In  other  days  I  was  intimate  with  Dr.  Levy.  We  used  to 
labor  together,  as  pastors,  in  the  same  city,  and  when  I  was  seeking  the  blessing 
he  has  preached  to  us  about,  and  urged  on  all  here  this  morning,  he  was  watch- 
ing me. 

"  We  can  hardly  realize  how  many  are  watching  our  movements.  Three  worlds 
are  interested  in  everything  we  do,  or  say,  or  think. 

"  I  believe  one  great  reason  why  so  many  find  it  difficult  to  obtain  sanctification 
is,  because  they  are  not  clear  in  their  justification.  I  am  satisfied  that  a  fully 
justified  soul  is  one  that  always  earnestly  desires  holiness.  Many  people  experi- 
ence religion  ;  but  they  fail  to  go  on  to  perfection,  and  conseqviently  are  turned 
aside  into  the  wilderness — a  waste,  howling  desert  of  "  sins,  and  doubts^  and 
fears."  One  of  the  most  important  things  this  world  needs  at  present  is,  that 
the  two-thirds  of  all  our  church  members,  living  in  an  uncertain  experience, 
should  be  clearly  and  soundly  converted. 

Voices — "  That's  so." 

"  I  was  converted  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  and  in  a  very  short  time  I  was  cry- 
ing out  for  heart  purity.  Satan  here  interposed,  saying  'Look  at  brother  A, 
and  at  sister  B.  They  are  old  members  of  the  Church,  and  they  say  nothing 
about  it.  Is  it  not  pretentious,  and  presumptuous  in  you  to  begin  talking  about 
holiness  ?'  How  many  are  now  here  before  me  who  are  members  of  the  Church 
10 


146  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

and  yet  are  not  clear  in  their  justification — have  not  to-day  the  witness  of  adop- 
tion?" 

He  then  proceeded  to  describe  the  sad  condition  of  such,  and  said  the  first 
step  they  should  take,  ought  to  be  to  the  altar  of  prayer,  and  to  the  blood,  seek- 
ing a  touch  of  refining  fire.  "  Fire,"  shouted  Mr.  Inskip,  '-yes  that's  it.  That 
is  what  is  wanted  here — refining  fire.  I  have  been  waiting  to  hear  this  point 
touched.  There  are  people  all  around  here,  lukewarm,  if  not  dead.  Lord  send 
down  upon  us  this  holy  fire !" 

The  altar  being  hastily  cleared,  many  came  and  knelt  in  deep  contrition.  The 
whole  scene  in  front  of  the  stand  became  transfonued  into  a  praying  circle. 
Each  for  himself  prayed.  Bro.  Inskip,  who  now  had  the  meeting  in  hand, 
cried  out — "  Let  us  all  pray  together  in  these  words — '  Jesus  save  me  now.'  " 
"  Come,"  he  continued,  "  put  faith  into  it,  and  say — '  Jesus,  saves  me  now.'  " 

The  declaration,  uttered  simultaneously  by  hundreds,  rose  into  a  confident,  tri- 
umphant shout. 

"  We  have  the  word  of  God  for  it,"  continued  the  leader.  "  Let  us  repeat  it 
— '  The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  his  Son,  cleanseth  me  from  all  sin.'  "  This 
was  spoken  in  concert. 

''  How  many  of  you  will  now  rise  up  and  say  it  loud  enough  for  all  present  to 
hear  you?" 

One  after  another  stood  up,  repeating  this  passage,  as  applicable  to  themselves. 
;Men  and  women,  ministers  and  members,  declared  the  fact,  and  God  attested  his 
own  trath  in  bestowing  great  freedom,  light  and  power,  while  confession  was 
thus  made  unto  salvation. 

The  noon  hour  had  come  and  passed ;  but  all  oblivious  to  dinner,  or  other 
duties,  the  congregation  remained  together.  Some  were  still  kneeling  and  pray- 
ing to  be  made  every  whit  whole,  and  it  seemed  to  be  the  settled  purpose  of 
their  hearts  not  to  leave  the  spot  until  they  too  could  "  tell  to  all  around,"  that 
this  mighty  work  had  been  wrought  within  them. 

Among  those  suddenly  awakened  was  a  lady  who,  when  pointed  to  the  Lamb 
of  God,  believed  and  was  filled  with  sensations  of  new  found  joy.  Her  compan- 
ion, a  young  man,  looked  on  uneasily.  He  seemed  not  to  comprehend  the  situ- 
ation. He  was  urged  to  kneel  and  give  his  heart  to  God.  Suddenly  an  appre- 
hcusion  of  his  condition  as  a  sinner  flashed  on  his  mind,  and  he  began  to  pray. 
His  expressions  were  out  of  the  prescribed  formula  ;  but  God  heard  him.  Be- 
fore leaving  he  learned  to  trust  in  Jesus,  and  we  hope  he  is  now  happy  in  the 
life  of  love. 


A    MODERN   PENTECOST.  147 


MONDAY  AFTERNOON,  i|  o'clock. 

SERMON  BY  REV.  WM.  NAST,  D.D.,  EDITOR  OF  THE    ^'CHRIS- 
TIAN'APOLOGIST,"  CINCINNATI,  DELIVERED 
IN  THE  GERMAN  LANGUAGE. 


As  Afoses  lifted  up  the  serpent  in  the  wildej'ness,  even  so  must  the  Son  of 
man  be  lifted  up  :  that  whosoever  believeth  in  Him  should  not  perish,  but 
have  everlasting  life.     John  iii.,  14,  15 

These  words  form  the  conchision  of  our  Lord's  memorable  conversation  with 
Nicodemus.  This  sincere  inquirer  after  truth  came  to  Jesus  with  the  ionfes- 
sion,  "Rabbi,  we  know  that  thou  art  a  teacher  come  from  God,  for  no  man  can 
do  these  miracles  that  thou  dost,  except  God  be  with  him."  By  saying  th's 
he  acknowledged  the  miraculous  works  of  Jesus  and  the  divine  authority  of 
his  teaching,  while  his  colleagues  in  the  Sanhedrim,  the  rulers  in  Israel,  utterly 
rejected  his  divine  mission.  Surely,  it  was  no  little  thing  for  a  man  like  Nic- 
odemus to  confess  this  ;  but  much  as  this  confession  of  the  well-instructed  and 
upright  Jewish  scribe  implied,  he  was  yet  very  far  from  understanding  what 
was  necessary  to  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  the  Messiah,  concerning  the  nature 
of  which  he  came  to  Jesus  for  instruction.  Before  he  was  prepared  to  receive 
more  light  in  this  direction,  he  must  learn  to  understand  that  he  himself  needed 
to  enter  into  that  kingdom ;  he  must  know  and  feel  himself  to  be  a  lost  sinner, 
whom  Jesus  came  to  save.  Jesus,  therefore,  interrupts  him  in  proposing  his 
queries,  makes  no  account  of  the  acknowledgment  of  his  divine  mission,  and 
tells  him  abruptly,  ''Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  thee,  except  a  man  be  born  again, 
he  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  God."  To  be  born  again  was  a  phrase  which 
was  not  entirely  unintelligible  to  Nicodemus.  He  knew,  that  of  proselytes  to 
the  Jewish  faith  it  was  said,  "  They  were  born  again  ;"  a  figurative  expression 
for  the  i-adical  change  that  took  place  with  them  when  they  were  converted 
from  their  idols  to  the  only  true  and  living  God,  and  were  received  into  cove- 
nant relation  with  the  God  of  Abraham,  Isaac  and  Jacob.  If  Jesus  had  spoken 
these  words  to  a  heathen,  Nicodemus  would  not  have  been  surprised.  But  that 
such  a  radical  change  as  this  figure  implied,  in  order  to  be  able  to  enter  the 
kingdom  of  the  Messiah,  should  be  required  of  Am,  a  son  of  Abraham,  a  ruler 
in  Israel,  a  believer  in  the  Lord  and  the  prophets, — this  declaration  of  Jesus 
was  entirely  unexpected  by  Nicodemus ;  it  was  shocking  to  him ;  he  was  irri- 
tated, as  people  get  irritated  to  this  day,  when  they  are  told  they  need  a  radical 
change  to  be  saved  ;  and  by  his  reply :  "  How  can  a  man  be  born  when  he  is 
old  ?     Can  he  enter  the  second  time  into  his  mother's  womb  and  be  born  ?"  he 


148  SIXTEENTH   NATIONAL    CAMP- MEETING. 

told  the  Saviour,  that  he  considered  the  demand  he  made  of  him  as  unreasona- 
ble as  to  demand  of  an  old  man  literally  to  be  born  again  by  his  mother.  We 
cannot  understand  the  reply  of  Nicodemus  in  any  other  way.  Surely  he  could 
not  think  that  Jesus  meant  to  require  a  new  birth  in  the  natural  sense.  His 
reply  was  very  disrespectful,  and  in  utter  contradiction  to  the  confession  he  had 
just  made.  'J'he  Saviour,  however  does  not  reprove  him,  but  simply  repeats  the 
demand,  adding  some  explanation:  '•  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  thee,  except  a 
man  be  born  of  water  and  of  the  Spirit,  he  cannot  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
God."  By  saying  to  Nicodemus.  ''  A  man  must  be  born  oficater^'^  Jesus  evi- 
dently reminded  him  of  the  baptism  unto  repentance  which  John  the  Baptist 
required  of  all  Israel,  in  order  to  be  prepared  for  the  kingdom  of  God,  which 
was  at  hand.  John  the  Baptist  was  sent  to  awaken  the  people  to  a  sense  of 
their  g-uilt  and  uncleanness,  which  they  were  to  confess  by  submitting  to  his 
baptism  unto  repentance.  But  Luke  tells  us  that  "The  Pharisees  and  lawyers 
rejected  the  counsel  of  God  against  themselves,  being  not  baptised  of  him." 
They  considered  themselves  possessed  of  all  needful  preparation  fur  the  kingdom 
of  the  Messiah.  And  to  those  of  the  Pharisees  and  Sadducees  who  came  t) 
John's  baptism  perhaps  only  as  spectators,  the  Baptist  said  :  '•  Think  not  to  say 
within  yourselves,  we  have  Abraham  for  our  Father,  for  I  say  unto  you,  that 
God  is  able  of  these  stones  to  raise  up  children  unto  Abraham."  Of  all  this 
Jesus  reminds  Nicodemus  by  saying, "  a  man  must  be  born  of  icater,"  and  when 
he  adib  ''  of  the  Spirif,"  Nicodemus  was  reminded  of  the  Baptist's  testimony  : 
'•  I  indeed  baptize  you  with  water  unto  repentance,  but  he  that  cometh  after 
me  shall  baptize  you  with  the  Holy  Ghost  and  with  fire."  He  was  reminded 
of  the  Old  Testament  promises  which  were  to  be  fulfilled  in  the  time  of  the 
Messiah  :  "  I  will  put  my  Spirit  within  you  and  cause  you  to  walk  in  my  statutes, 
and  ye  shall  keep  my  judgments  and  do  them."  The  mysteriousness  and  Jrec- 
ness  of  this  spiritual  change  Jesus  compares  to  the  blowing  of  the  wind,  and 
its  necessifj/  he  demonstrates  by  saying.  "  That  which  is  born  of  the  flesh,  is 
flesh,  and  that  which  is  born  of  the  Spirit,  is  spirit.  Marvel  not  that  I  said 
unto  thee  (even  unto  thee,  Nicodemus,)  ye  must  be  born  again." 

And  what  does  Nicodemus  answer  now?  He  says,  "  How  can  these  things 
be  ?"  Does  he  mean  to  reiterate  his  doubts  of  the  necessity  or  possibility  of  be- 
ing born  again?  We  cannot  understand  him  so.  Jesus  had  not  spoken  in  vain 
to  Nicodemus  The  knowing  Jewish  Rabbi  lias  become  an  humble  disciple, 
inquiring  after  the  way  by  which  this  new  birth  is  to  come  to  pass.  After  hav- 
ing convinced  him  of  the  necessity  of  the  new  birth,  and  awakened  in  his  heart 
a  desire  for  its  experience,  the  Lord  first  reproves  him  justly,  that  he,  a  master 
in  Israel,  should  not  know  that  the  new  birth,  spiritual  religion,  the  righteous- 
ness before  God,  can  be  attained  in  no  other  way  than  by  fliith  in  the  promised 
Messiah  ;  expressing  also  surprise,  why  in  coming  to  him  as  a  teacher  come 
from  God,  Nicodemus  did  not  recognize  him,  of  whom  Moses  and  the  Prophets 
had  testitied,  and  to  whom  John  the  Baptist  pointed  so  unequivocally  as  the 
Son  of  God,  the  promised  Messiah,  the  Lamb  of  God  that  taketh  away  the  sin 
of  the  world;  and  then  he  closed  his  instructions  by  telling  him  that  the  Mes- 
siah came  not  to  sit  on  David's  throne  as  a  temporal  king,  but  that  the  Son  of 
man  must  be  lifted  up,  even  as  Moses  lifted  up  the  serpent  in  the  wilderness, 
that  whosoever  believeth  in  him  should  not  perish,  but  have  eternal  life;  even 
as  every  Israelite  that  was  bitten  by  the  fiery  serpent,  when  he  looked  upon  the 
serpciit  of  brass  lifted  upon  a  pole,  did  not  die. 


A    MODERN    PENTECOST.  149 

May  the  Holy  Spirit  show  us  what  the  Saviour  wants  to  teach  us,  by  com- 
paring his  being  lifted  up  on  the  cross,  and  our  believing  in  him,  with  the  lifting 
up  of  the  serpent  of  brass,  and  the  Israelites  being  commanded  to  look  upon  it 
and  be  saved  !  Let  us  look  at  the  principal  points  of  analogy  in  this  typical  re- 
presentation. 

1.  1'here  is  a  striking  analogy  between  the  degenerate  condition  of  the  bitten 
Israelites  and  our  condition  as  sinners. 

Deadly  and  inexpressibly  painful  was  the  bite  of  those  fiery-serpents,  so  called 
either  from  their  appearance  or  from  the  effects  of  their  bite.  What  a  picture 
of  that  wider  and  more  terrible  desolation  caused  by  the  bite  of  that  great  ser- 
pent, the  devil,  who  has  infused  his  poison  through  the  whole  nature  of  every 
man,  producing  sin,  sorrow,  pain  and  death !  How  much  more  intolerable  is 
the  agony  of  the  soul  under  a  consciousness  of  the  displeasure  of  God  than  the 
most  excruciating  pain  of  the  body !  And  what  is  the  death  of  the  body  com- 
pared to  the  eternal  death  of  the  soul  to  God, — the  eternal  woe  of  the  soul  suc- 
ceeding the  death  of  the  body!  Moreover,  the  plague  of  the  Israelites,  general 
as  it  was,  yet  does  not  seem  to  have  been  a  universal  one ;  it  is  not  stated  that 
all  the  Israelites,  without  exception,  were  bitten.  But  that  which  afflicts  us  as 
sinners,  is  univertal.  Death  has  passed  upon  all  men,  for  that  all  have  sinned. 
They  are  all  gone  out  of  the  way ;  they  are  together  become  uprofitable ;  there 
is  none  that  doeth  good, — no,  not  one.  In  every  man  "  the  whole  head  is  sick, 
and  the  whole  heart  is  faint,"  and  all  men  in  every  age  and  nation  are  by  nature 
the  children  of  the  wicked  one,  exposed  to  eternal  perdition. 

2.  The  bitten  Israelites  could  not  be  saved  in  any  other  way  but  by  the  re  - 
medy  which  it  pleased  God  in  his  wisdom  to  devise. 

If  the  Israelites  had  refusod  to  make  us3  of  the  remedy  provided,  th3y  had  to 
perish  ;  there  was  no  help  for  them.  In  like  manner  sinners  cannot  be  saved  in 
any  other  way  than  by  Him  whom  God  hath  set  forth  to  be  a  propitiation 
through  faith  in  his  blood.  There  is  no  other  name  under  heaven  given  among 
men  by  which  we  must  be  saved.  As  God  would  not  save  the  Israelites  in  any 
other  way  than  by  the  remedy  provided  by  him,  so  there  is  no  salvation  possi- 
ble to  sinful  man  in  any  other  way  but  by  believing  that  Jesus  died  for  sinners. 
As  Moses  lifted  up  the  serpent  in  the  wilderness,  even  so  must  the  Son  of  man 
be  lifted  up.  Whenever  Jesus  speaks  of  his  suffering  and  death,  he  uses  the 
word  "  must,"  representing  his  death  on  the  cross  as  the  inexorable  condition  of 
the  sinner's  salvation.  To  redeem  us  from  the  curse  of  the  law,  he  must  be 
made  a  curse  for  us.  Though  Christ  saves  us  as  Prophet,  Priest  and  King : 
though  he  is  made  unto  us  of  God,  wisdom,  righteousness,  sanctification  and  re- 
demption ;  yet  all  these  saving  acts  and  offices  of  Christ  are  based  upon  his  hav- 
ing been  lifted  up  ;  and  that  his  being  lifted  up  means  nothing  else  than  his 
vicarious  death  on  the  cross,  the  beloved  disciple  assures  us  expressly  by  saying 
that  when  Jesus  said :  "  I,  if  I  be  lifted  up  from  the  earth,  will  draw  all  men 
unto  me,"  he  signified  what  death  he  should  die. 

3.  Thare  is  an  analogy  with  regard  to  the  use  of  the  remedy  which  God 
chose  for  the  bitten  Israelites  and  the  poor  sinner. 

What  did  God  mean  by  this  strange,  mysterious  object-teaching  in  the  wil- 
derness? When  Moses  prayed  for  the  people,  the  Lord  coaimanded  him  "  ti 
make  a  fiery  serpent  and  set  it  upon  a  pole  ;  and  it  shall  come  to  pass  that  every 
one  that  is  bitten,  when  he  looketh  upon  it,  shall  live."     It  was  evidjntly  a  test 


150  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP  MEETING. 

of  faitli  for  the  Israelites.  When  they  looked  upon  this  lifted-up  serpent  of 
brass,  the  harmless  image  of  the  fiery  serpents  from  -whose  bites  they  were  suf- 
lering,  they  should  look  upon  it  as  a  pledge  that  Jehovah  had  secured  their  full 
recovery  from  the  deadly  bite ;  that  his  anger  was  turned  away,  and  that  he 
would  heal  every  one  who,  looking  upon  the  sign  he  gave,  trusted  in  the  pro- 
mised salvation. 

But  this  was  a  very  strange  way  of  saving  the  Israelites.  It  required  strong 
faith  to  expect  recovery  from  the  use  of  such  a  remedy.  No  doubt  many  objec- 
tions against  it  were  suggested  to  the  Israelites,  though  we  read  of  none  foolish 
enough  to  yield  to  them.  "  Of  what  use  can  it  be  to  look  upon  this  image  ?  Is 
it  not  contrary  to  God's  bidding,  to  make  any  image,  and  to  expect  help  from 
the  use  of  images?  And  why  should  we  look  upon  the  image  of  the  serpent, 
the  emblem  of  sin  and  Satan?"  Moses  himself  might  have  hesitated.  It  was 
almost  as  severe  as  a  test  of  faith,  as  the  demand  made  of  Abraham  to  sacrifice 
liis  own  son.  But  as  Abraham,  so  was  Moses  and  his  people  assured  that  God 
had  spoken.  There  was  no  other  help  offered  by  Jehovah.  And  does  this  way 
of  saving  the  bitten  Israelites  not  bear  a  strong  resemblance  to  the  way  God  pro- 
poses to  save  the  perishing  sinner?  He  who  knew  no  sin,  but  came  in  the 
likeness  of  sinful  flesh,  who  was  made  sin  for  us,  that  we  might  be  made  the 
righteousness  of  God  in  him  ;  who  was  made  a  curse  for  us  that  we  might  be 
redeemed  from  the  cur.-<e  of  the  law ;  he  is  lifted  up  on  the  cross  as  a  pledge 
that  the  debt  is  paid,  that  Satan  is  trodden  under  foot  by  the  seed  of  the  woman, 
that  the  blood  of  Jesus  cleanses  from  all  sin,  extracts  all  the  poison  ;  that  salva- 
tion from  sin,  from  its  guilt,  its  power,  its  pollution,  salvation  to  the  uttermost, 
is  secured  for  all  that  will  trust  in  the  divine  promise.. 

Though  there  is  a  difference  in  the  type  and  antitype  with  regard  to  that 
vlilch  constitutes  the  remerly — the  remedy  in  the  type  appearing  in  the  likeness 
of  that  which  produced  the  malady,  while  in  the  antitype,  in  Ohrist,  the  remedy 
appears  in  the  likeness  of  him  that  is  to  be  healed — which  difference  arises  from 
this,  that  the  poison  of  the  serpent  could  in  no  other  way  be  extracted  from  hu- 
man nature  but  7;y  Christ  assuming  that  nature;  yet  a  striking  analogy  between 
t'le  type  and  the  antitype,  even  with  regard  to  the  form  in  which  the  remedy  is 
r  presented,  lies  in  this,  that  as  it  pleased  God  to  save  the  Israelites  by  looking 
upon  an  object  which  appeared  to  them  utterly  inadequate  and  offensive,  so  it 
has  p'eased  God  to  save  sinners  by  a  method  which  is  to  the  Jews  a  stumbling- 
block  and  to  the  Greeks  foolishness  ! 

4  In  conclusion  let  us  look  at  the  striking  analogy  of  the  type  and  antitype 
with  regard  to  the  suddenness  and  perfection  of  cure  which  they  obtained  who 
made  use  of  the  remedy  offered  to  them. 

"  It  came  to  pass,"  we  read  in  the  account  of  the  wonderful  transaction  in  the 
wilderness,  "  that  if  a  serpent  had  biitcn  any  man,  when  he  beheld  the  serpent 
of  brass,  he  lived."  'I'hcy  were  healed  and  lived  in  all  stages  of  the  fiery  dis- 
ease, some  just  bitten,  some  writhing  in  torture,  some  fast  sinking  into  death, 
little  children,  stmng  men,  delicate  women.  They  are  all  in  consternation  and 
torment,  but  they  look ;  perhaps  they  can  but  lift  the  half-closed  eye  ;  but  they 
catch  the  sight  of  the  brazen  serpent,  and  one  glance  avails — they  live !  In  an 
instant  they  are  saved  at  the  very  portal  of  death. 

Just  so  it  is  with  the  great  salvation  which  Jesus  has  wrought  out  and  offers 
to  every  sinner.  What  the  looking  on  the  brazen  serpent  was  to  the  bitten  Is- 
raelites, faith  in  Christ  is  to  the  sinner.     The  salvation  which  Christ  offers  to 


A    MODERN    PENTECOST.  151 

US,  whether  it  be  from  the  guilt  of  sin  or  from  its  power  and  pollution,  whether 
partial  or  full  and  entire,  is  to  be  obtained  in  no  other  way  but  by  believing 
that  as  God  was  in  Christ,  reconciling  the  world  unto  himself,  there  is  nothing 
that  hinders  him  to  save  us  now  either  from  the  guilt  or  the  power  of  our  sins, 
provided  we  are  willing  to  depart  from  all  sin  to  the  extent  of  the  light  that 
God  has  given  us,  and  to  consecrate  all  we  are  and  have  to  his  service. 

An  appropriating,  saving  faith  in  Christ  is  sometimes  called  coming  to  him,  at 
other  times  receiving  him,  or  accepting  the  invitation  to  the  great  supper,  or 
eating  his  flesh  and  drinking  his  blood.  Here  it  is  represented  under  the  figure 
of  simply  looking  on  him,  perfectly  helpless,  casting  away  all  confidence  in  help 
from  any  other  source,  sinking  into  both  his  arms  as  our  only,  our  last  refuge. 

It  was  just  at  that  moment,  when  we  utterly  despaired  of  all  we  could  do, 
when  nothing  more  was  left  to  us  but  simply  to  look  upon  him  who  died  for  us , 
looking  upon  him  like  the  penitent  thief  on  the  cross ;  it  was  in  that  moment, 
that  we  heard  his  pardoning  voice,  that  we  passed  from  death  unto  life  ;  that 
we  were  justified  freely  by  his  grace.  And  just  in  the  same  way  as  Jesus  saved 
you  from  the  guilt  of  sin,  when  you  looked  upon  him  as  your  righteousness,  so 
he  is  ready  to  save  you  from  the  indwelling  of  sin,  from  the  last  and  least  remains 
of  the  carnal  mind,  when  you  look  upon  him  as  your  sanctification,  when  you 
believe  his  promise  to  cleanse  you  from  all  unrighteousness  and  impurity. 

From  the  beginning  to  the  end  we  are  saved  simply  and  only  by  looking  un- 
to Jesus,  the  author  and  finisher  of  our  faith.  "  Look  unto  me  and  be  ye  saved, 
all  ye  ends  of  the  earth  !"  Are  you  yet  an  unpardoned  sinner  ?  Look  unto 
Jesus,  who  is  exalted  a  Prince  and  Saviour,  to  give  repentance  and  remission  of 
sins  !  Penitent  sinner,  stop  looking  upon  your  sins  !  Look  upon  him  that  died 
for  you,  the  just  for  the  unjust.  What  would  it  have  helped  the  bitten  Israel- 
ites to  look  upon  the  ten-ible  wounds  received  fi-om  the  fiery  serpents?  Justi- 
fied believer,  look  upon  him  who  shed  his  precious  blood  to  redeem  you  from  all 
iniquity,  to  wash  you  from  all  impurity.  Do  not  rest  short  of  full  salvation. 
You  must  have  it  in  order  to  see  him  in  heaven  ;  for  without  holiness  no  man 
can  see  the  Lord.  None  but  the  pure  in  heart  shall  see  God.  You  need  this 
heart-purity  now.  l^ou  can  have  it  now,  if  you  seek  it  by  faith.  Look  away 
from  self;  look  simply  and  only  unto  Jesus;  expect  this,  as  you  did  justification, 
by  faith.  Sanctified  believer,  look  unto  Jesus  from  moment  to  moment,  to  be 
kept  clean,  and  to  be  changed  from  glory  to  glory  into  his  full  image.  As  soon 
as  you  look  away  from  Jesus,  you  sink,  like  Peter  on  the  water. 

Glory  be  to  Jesus !  As  he  has  come  to  save  all  men,  so  he  is  able  to 
save  to  the  uttermost,  fully,  through  and  through,  and  forever;  or,  as  Luther 
translates  it,  always,  under  all  circumstances,  and  at  all  times,  all  that  come 
unto  God  by  him.  Yea,  '-Unto  him  who  is  able  to  do  exceeding,  abundantly 
above  all  that  we  ask  or  think,  according  to  the  power  that  worketh  in  us, 
unto  him  be  glory  in  the  church,  by  Christ  Jesus,  throughout  all  ages,  world 
without  end.     Amen." 


152  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 


THE  WORK  ADVANCING. 

"While  Dr.  Nast  was  addressing  the  Germans  in  their  own  rich  and  unc- 
tuous vernacular,  and  Mrs.  Inskip  was  busy  with  her  children's  meetinor, 
and  the  members  of  the  Natioral  Association  were  secluded  in  prayer  and 
counsel,  a  mighty  influence  prevailed  at  the  Landisville  meeting  tent.  The 
exercises  had  been  opened  with  prayer  by  Rev.  S.  W.  Brown,  and  imme- 
diate answers  were  realized. 

Brother  Thompson  observed — "We  get  our  richest  blessings  in  the  hum- 
blest frame  of  mind.     Let  us  take  the  lowest  place  to-day." 

Sister  Amanda  Smith  then  led  in  one  of  those  simple  prayers  that  carries 
the  soul  right  to  the  mercy-seat. 

Brother  Brown,  in  reference  to  his  experience,  said:  "I  used  to  live  such 
a  wavering  life  —  sometimes  with  Mary  at  the  Saviour's  feet,  sometimes  with 
Peter  afar  ofi";  but,  thank  God,  I  found  a  better  way.  The  thought  occurred 
to  me  :  Why  should  I  carry  a  burden  when  Jesus  is  able  to  carry  it  for  me, 
and  wants  to  do  it  ?  Two  tipsy  men  were  rowing  a  boat,  but  it  would  not 
move ;  so  they  fell  asleep,  and  in  the  morning  they  found  out  that  they  had 
never  pulled  up  the  anchor.  So  it  is  with  many.  They  want  the  blessing 
of  holiness,  but  they  have  not  pulled  up  the  anchor.  God  had  to  put  me  to 
a  great  many  tests,  to  see  if  I  would  do  so.     Thank  God,  I  did  !" 

Sister  Smith  «aid :  "We  often  come  up  against  something  when  we  are 
consecrating,  and  we  can't  get  any  farther  until  we  give  it  up.  People  ask  me 
to  pray  for  their  children,  when  they  are  not  saved  themselves.  I  was  pray- 
ing for  a  family  in  New  York,  and  I  could  not  pray  in  faith.  I  seemed  to  pray 
up  against  something  ;  my  faith  could  not  take  hold.  I  was  invited  to  call  one 
morning,  and  was  shown  into  the  parlor.  Then  I  found  that  they  had  a 
party  the  night  before;  and  there  were  the  billiard  tables.  I  said  at  once, 
'  Now  I  know  what  I  was  praying  against.'  We  must  lay  aside  these  things, 
and  become  very  peculiar  for  God. 

"  I  was  praying  for  a  young  lady,  and  I  asked,  '  Do  you  believe  God  hears 
your  prayers  ?' 

" '  Yes.' 

•' '  Does  he  answer?' 

"  '  Well,  T  don't  expect  he  will  just  now.' 

"How  many  there  are  of  this  kind !  We  must  wait  in  hope,  as  they  did 
before  the  Pentecost. 

"  I  feel  quite  a  burden  for  some  one  that  is  unconverted.  Are  there  any 
here  who  desire  us  to  pray  for  them?"  A  number  rose  up.  A  brother  said, 
'•  I  am  going  to  leave,  and  I  want  you  to  pray  for  me.  I  came  here  for  a 
blessing.     I  am  tired  of  this  kind  of  life.    I  want  to  be  fully  the  Lord's." 

Then  followed  a  precious  season  of  silent  prayer,  and  in  the  midst  of  it  a 
sister  sang,  sweetly  and  softly, 

"  My  all  is  on  the  altar; 
I'm  waiting  for  the  fire; 
Waiting,  waiting,  waiting. 
Waiting  for  the  fire." 

The  fire  came.  Many  hearts  were  melted.  The  tears  flowed;  shouts 
arose,  and  the  "  Spirit  of  burning"  was  sensibly  felt  on  every  soul. 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  153 

SEKMON    BY    REV.   J.   E.    SEARLES. 
Monday,   3    P.   M. 

"  I  am  crucified  with  Christ"  &c. — Gal.  2:  20. 

After  some  preliminary  remarks  respecting  the  origin  of  the  passage  read, 
the  speaker  proceeded  to  say:  This  text  is  of  peculiar  interest,  because  it 
sets  forth  St.  Paul's  experience  of  the  higher  Christian  life,  embracing  what 
we  denominate  entire  sanctification — comprehended  in  the  idea  and  fact  of 
the  death  of  self,  and  a  new  divine  life  through  faith  in  Christ. 

To  make  this  subject  plain,  I  propose  to  show  first,  what  this  experience  is 
not. 

1.  It  is  nothing  that  can  be  originated  or  produced  by  the  observance  of 
religious  ordinances,  or  any  Church  services  whatever.  AH  who  may  be  de- 
pending on  these  things  for  religious  experience  will  be  sadly  disappointed. 
These  ordinances  and  services  are  only  guide  boards  leading  on  to  the  realiza- 
tion of  the  experimental  in  religion,  but  can  never  produce  it. 

In  this  connection  I  would  also  say,  that  there  is  nothing  in  religious  du- 
ties to  nourish  or  perpetuate  this  higher-life  experience.  Duty  may  be,  and 
is  in  many  cases,  a  mere  performance.  At  best,  Christian  duties  are  only 
channels  through  which  Grod  conveys  grace  and  blessings  to  the  soul.  Chris- 
tian duty  has  no  real  significance  apart  from  the  fact  that  religion  is  a  reality. 
Many  blunder  here.  Instead  of  looking  to  the  Holy  Spirit  for  his  blessing, 
they  depend  on  doing  duty,  and  backslide  in  heart. 

2.  The  great  act  of  consecration  is  not  this  experience. 

Entire  consecration  of  all  to  God  is  indeed  a  great  work.  It  is  easy  to  say 
the  word ;  but  to  really  make  it,  embracing  not  only  all  we  have,  but  our  en- 
tire being  for  all  time,  whatever  may  transpire,  is  an  act  requiring  the  whole 
strength  and  efibrt  of  the  soul,  and  the  intensest  sincerity.  But  such  conse- 
cration in  its  best  sense,  is  only  our  own  act,  and  falls  infinitely  short  of  the 
experience  contemplated  in  the  text. 

3  This  higher  experience  is  not  merely  being  cleansed  from  sin.  It  in- 
cludes this.  Being  cleansed  from  all  sin  is  indeed  a  great  experience.  My 
soul  shall  never  forget  the  day  when  this  blessed  experience  became  my  own. 
But  being  cleansed  from  sin  is  only  the  negative  part;  it  is  only  the  removal 
of  the  rubbish,  the  defilement  of  the  soul — something  we  have  no  business 
with,  it  is  our  shame  and  ruin. 

St.  Paul's  standard  of  experience  is  infinitely  higher — hear  him  :  "  I  am 
crucified  with  Christ,  nevertheless  I  live;  yet  not  I,  but  Christ  liveth  in 
me." 

This  higher-life  experience  of  the  apostle  produces  a  complete  revolution 
in  our  whole  being.  Pardon,  consecration,  and  cleansing,  therefore,  only 
prepare  the  human  temple  for  the  incoming  Christ-life. 


154  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

This  higher  life  experience  is  not  the  doing  of  religious  duties.  It  is  not 
the  consecration  of  all  to  God.  It  is  not  merely  freedom  from  sin  ;  but  it  is 
the  death  of  self,  the  carnal  mind,  and  the  reception  of  Christ  into  the  soul, 
who  is  the  true  God  and  eternal  life.  Thus  the  life  we  lost  in  Adam,  comes 
back  to  us  in  and  with  Christ. 

Some  persons,  not  a  few,  held  that  salvation  is  a  completed  work  in  regen- 
eration, and  that  sanctification  is  the  subsequent  growth  or  development  of 
that  work  into  pure  Christ-like  spirit  and  practice.  Here  I  blundered,  and 
tried  to  struggle  up  to  the  higher  attainments  for  long  years  never  to  be  for- 
gotten, with  the  sad  experience  of  finding  myself  less  advanced  than  when  I 
commenced  ]  but  often  reproaching  myself  for  many  sad  failures.  But  I  was 
honest  in  my  views,  for  it  seemed  to  me  to  be  a  reproach  to  Christ  to  say 
there  remained  any  sin  in  the  heart  of  a  person  whom  he  had  saved.  And 
yet  I  was  not  satisfied  with  myself,  finding  a  tendency,  a  leaning  in  my  nature 
to  sin.  But  I  embraced  the  theory  that  this  evil  was  in  my  animal,  or  human 
nature,  and  I  must  make  the  best  of  it;  for  that  nature  was  not  a  subject  of 
grace,  but  must  be  kept  under ;  and  at  last  death  would  bring  deliverance. 
And,  with  a  good  deal  of  triumph,  I  would  ask  professors  of  sanctification  : 
How  can  Christ  and  sin  dwell  in  the  same  heart?  If  a  justified  soul  is  not 
saved  from  all  sin,  how  can  that  soul  go  to  heaven  ?  But  God  has  enabled 
me  to  see  these  things  in  a  clear  light  since.  For  the  help  of  any  who  may 
have  these  troubles  of  mind,  let  me  explain :  Christ  does  not  dwell  in  a 
heart  where  sin  is  allowed ;  but  he  does  dwell  in  every  believing  heart  where 
sin  is  resisted. 

But  how  can  an  unsanctified  believer  go  to  heaven  ?  There  never  was  such 
a  one  who  went  to  heaven. 

Observe:  All  justified  persons  are  in  the  same  moral  relation  to  God  as  a  lit- 
tle child.  But  we  have  the  fullest  evidence  of  depravity  in  the  little  child. 
Jesus,  however,  says,  "  Of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven."  Now  if  the  little 
child  die,  not  having  actually  sinned,  the  Bedeemer  takes  the  responsibility  of 
purifying  and  bringing  him  to  heaven.  So  with  the  convert  dying  before  he  has  the 
opportunity  to  seek  sanctification ;  Christ  will  also  sanctify  him  unconditionally 
and  take  him  to  heaven. 

So  also  if  a  believer  really  maintain  his  justification,  that  relation  to  God  se- 
cures to  him  the  promise  of  the  full  salvation  of  his  soul.  "  He  which  hath 
begun  a  good  work  in  you  will  perform  it  until  the  day  of  Jesus  Christ."  It  is 
God's  plan  that  the  justified  should  go  on  immediately  to  the  higher-life  exper- 
ience. It  is  doubtless  exceedingly  diflicult  for  any  to  long  keep  their  justifica- 
tion unless  they  are  seeking  to  advance  in  the  divine  life  ;  and  to  keep  in  the 
sanctified  state  there  must  also  be  a  growth  in  that  grace. 

These  facts  account  for  the  low  state  of  piety  and  the  frequent  backslidings 
in  the  Church.  Converts  are  left  to  get  on  as  best  they  can  in  their  merely 
justified  state.  They  are  not  taught  their  privilege  and  duty  to  be  fully  saved. 
It  is  not  at  all  marvelous  that  with  the  remains  of  the  carnal  mind  in  their 
hearts,  and  the  sad  example  of  the  mass  of  old  professors  before  them,  that  they 
should  fall  away  and  lose  their  religion. 

Here  then  we  see  the  need  of  a  second  work,  and  deeper  experience  of  salva- 
tion. There  is  in  human  nature  an  inborn  will,  a  tendency  to  sin.  This  is  the 
occasion  of  most  of  our  trouble  and  hindrance  in  the  divine  life.  It  stirs  in  the 
heart  sometimes  in  the  rising  of  anger,  or  pride,  or  envy,  or  self-will,  or  love  of 


A    MODERN    PENTECOST.  155 

the  world,  or  unbelief.  We  may  not  allow  these  things ;  we  fight  them  clown  ; 
we  are  often  ashamed  of  them.  But  the  existence  of  this  evil  nature  not  being 
the  result  of  our  transgression,  but  being  born  in  us,  consequently  it  does  not 
affect  our  justified  state.  But  being  an  inborn  evil,  it  cannot  be  pardoned  like 
actual  sin ;  and  being  also  inbred  sin,  attaching  to  our  moral  nature,  it  cannot 
be  lived  out,  or  extirpated  by  any  act  of  our  own ;  but  puts  us  in  peril  while  it 
remains  in  us,  ready  to  spring  up  at  any  moment  when  we  cease  to  watch  it. 
This  inward  evil  can  be  removed  only  by  crucifixion — separating  it  from  us  by 
the  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit  applying  the  blood  of  Christ. 

Two  deaths  are  necessary  to  entire  sanctification — the  death  of  Christ  for 
sin  and  our  death  to  sin.  Our  death  to  sin  is  after  the  manner  of  Christ's 
death  for  sin;  it  is  imperative  and  voluntary — i.e.  the  law  demands  it;  and 
we  also  choose  it,  and  say,  "  Not  as  I  will,  but  as  thou  wilt."  This  death  of 
self  is  absolutely  necessary  to  the  incoming  of  the  Christ-life.  While  there 
remains  evil  in  our  heart,  the  fullness  of  the  Christ-life  cannot  come  in  ;  but 
when  the  heart  is  cleansed,  emptied,  self  and  inbred  sin  removed,  then  there 
is  room  for  Christ  to  reign  entire.  Then  it  is,  and  not  till  then,  the  other — 
the  positive  part  of  this  ^reat  experience  is  effected,  and  we  are  enabled  to 
say,  I  am  not  only  "  crucified  with  Christ,"  my  old  self  is  no  more — is  dead; 
"  nevertheless  I  live,  yet  not  I,  but  Christ  liveth  in  me."  What  is  the 
result?  Then  we  have  the  meekness  of  Christ;  no  more  flashing  out  of 
anger.  We  have  the  patience  of  Christ;  no  more  fretfulness  or  sourness. 
We  have  the  submission  of  Christ;  no  more  self-will.  We  have  the  humility 
of  Christ;  no  more  pride  and  vanity.  We  have  the  love  of  Christ;  no 
more  envy  or  hatred.  There  is  no  more  desire  for  the  world's  vain  pleasures. 
How  can  there  be  if  Jesus  fills  the  heart  ? 

When  Christ  lives  in  us,  then  there  is  no  more  trying  to  love  God ;  but 
1  tve  springs — wells  up  spontaneously.  This  is  a  style  of  religion  that  goes 
without  trying.  This  Christ-life  is  a  sovereign  power  in  the  soul,  impelling 
it  onward  in  the  King's  highway,  shining  more  and  more.  You  may  be 
tempted  from  without  to  be  angry,  to  be  proud,  to  indulge  your  appetites ; 
but  there  will  be  no  inward  struggle.  The  inward  presence  of  Christ  is  the 
victory. 

But  the  great  question  is,  How  may  this  great  experience  be  obtained? 
This  is  the  plainest  part  of  the  subject. 

St.  Paul  says:  ''The  life  I  now  live  {i.e.  this  higher  life),  I  live  by  the 
faith  of  the  Son  of  God,  who  loved  me,  and  gave  himself  for  me."  It  is  by 
simple  faith  founded  on  the  atonement,  and  personal  love  of  Jesus,  "who 
loved  me  and  gave  himself  for  me."  Mark  :  Faith  that  seems  so  difficult  is 
easy  when  all  the  hindrances  are  removed. 

But  the  crucifixion  of  self  must  precede  faith.  No  heart  can  believe  into 
which  Christ  cannot  come.  This  is  the  struggle — not  faith.  But  this  great 
/  mu.st  go  down  !  Self  must  be  killed.  Can't  get  rid  of  it  in  any  other 
way.  ''  I  am  crucified"  (Paul  says) — not  bound,  not  wounded,  hut  killed — 
crucified  to  the  world  and  sin.  Unbelief  is  the  last  relic  of  an  evil  heart 
that  is  given  up.  But  when  all  is  given  up,  then  comes  the  resurrection — 
then  the  fullness  of  the  Christ-life  comes  in  and  fills  the  soul.  This  resur- 
rection is  in  the  likeness  of  Christ.  Then  perfect  love  rises  to  the  throne  of 
the  soul,  and  rules  with  the  sceptre  of  God.  Now  the  soul  moves  from  a 
power  within — not  from  outward  motives. 


15ft  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL    CAMP-MEETINQ. 

Christ,  therefore,  dwelling  in  our  hearts  here,  is  the  true  higher  life. 
This  is  the  great  salvation — this  is  the  hiijhest  experience  of  a  human  soul, 
until  we  behold  the  Lamb  in  his  glory,  and  sit  down  with  him  at  the  mar- 
riaee  feast. 

This  great  experience  is  the  privilege  and  duty  of  all  the  followers  of 
Jesus,  fittins:  them  for  usefulness  and  heaven. 


The  question,  "Who  is  now  willing  to  die — die  utterly  to  self  and  sin, 
that  he  may  realize  this  new  life  in  Christ  ?" — was  pressed  home  at  the  close 
of  the  sermon.  To  many,  this  "one  thing  needful"  became  the  great  object 
of  desire;  others,  alas!  feared  the  grave  of  earthly  hope,  and  shrank  from 
the  duty  and  privilege  so  plainly  presented.  With  them  the  moment  passed, 
and  the  opportunity  was  lost  forever. 

The  Preachers'  Meeting,  at  6  P.  M.,  was  attended  with  special  tokens  of  the 
presence  of  Jesus. 


MONDAY  EVENING,  TJ  o'clock. 
SERMON  BY  REV.  I.  SIMMONS,  OF  BROOKLYN,  N.  Y. 


"  But  if  we  walk  in  the  Ught^  as  he  is  in  the  light,  ive  have  fellowsh!p  one 
with  another,  and  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  His  Son,  cleanseth  us  from  all 
sin." — I  John  i.,  7. 

Before  entering  upon  the  discussion  before  us,  I  call  you  to  notice  a  few 
facts  concerning  it.  You  observe  that  herein  is  stated  a  positive  declaration 
of  a  moral  condition.  It  is  not  a  promise,  though  the  Scriptures  abound  in 
promises  relating  to  the  state  here  expressed.  But  in  this  text  Grod  makes  a 
distinct  statement  of  a  fact,  and  it  comes  to  us  with  all  the  force  of  the  Om- 
nipotent word.  It  is  also  a  declaration  in  which  the  three  persons  of  the 
adorable  Trinity  are  involved.  We  are  to  walk  in  the  light,  to  have  fellow- 
ship with  God,  and  be  cleansed  by  the  blood  of  his  Son.  Oh,  what  a  salva- 
tion is  ours  that  results  from  the  active  co-operation  of  the  entire  Crodhead  ! 

And  then,  again,  this  is  a  declaration  made  concerning  men.  Whatever 
great  and  glorious  communication  God  makes  to  the  beings  of  other  spheres, 
or  to  the  saints  and  seraphs  in  heaven,  we  do  not  know  ;  but  this  we  know, 
that  if  we  walk  in  the  light  with  him,  the  blood  of  his  Son  does  now,  while 
we  thus  walk,  cleanse  us  from  all  sin.  But  you  will  observe  the  declaration 
is  not  simply  to  man  as  such,  but  to  man  in  the  possession  of  grace,  and  in 
the  experience  of  some  measure  of  fellowship  and  acquaintance  with  God. 
Glance  at  the  context,  and  this  point  will  appear  plain.  "This,  then,  is  the 
message  which  we  have  heard  of  him,  and  declare  unto  you,  that  God  is  light, 
and  in  him  there  is  no  darkness  at  all.     If  we  say  we  have  foUowdhip  with 


A    MODERN   PENTECOST.  157 

him,  and  walk  in  darkness,  we  lie,  and  do  not  the  truth.  But  if  we  walk  in 
the  light  as  he  is  in  the  light,  we  have  fellowship  one  with  another,  and  the 
blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  his  Son,  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin."  Now  this  must 
be  addressed  to  all  believers,  for  only  they  claim  to  have  fellowship  with  Grod. 
Sinners  make  no  such  claim.  The  carnal  mind  is  at  enmity  with  God,  and 
has  no  companionship  with  him  in  the  sense  of  this  passage. 

Again,  this  is  a  declaration  of  a  progressively  present  moral  condition.  I 
insist  with  all  emphasis  that  the  power  of  this  text  is  not  that  it  is  historical 
or  prophetic,  but  that  it  is  a  constantly  present  work.  The  blood  cleanses  ; 
not  has,  or  ivil/,  hut  does  !  It  does  so  each  moment,  so  that  the  trusting  soul 
bus  but  to  fix  its  gaze  upon  a  present  cross,  a  present  sacrifice,  and  be  each 
m  mient  cleansed.  This  is  God's  way.  He  takes  it  to  us  as  a  determined 
law — a  law  as  positive  as  any  law  of  cause  and  effect.  If  we  walk  in  the  light, 
follow  the  Spirit,  through  the  word,  the  cleansing  must  follow.  But  some  ef- 
fects follow  their  causes  at  long  intervals.  The  effect  of  seed-sowing,  under 
proper  conditions,  is  harvesting  :  bur  fuur  months  must  elapse.  Not  so  with 
this  law.  The  effect  and  the  cause  interblend.  There  are  operations  in  na 
ture  that  illustrate  this.  The  barometer  immediately  acts  with  the  changes  of 
the  atmosphere.  So,  while  we  walk  in  the  light,  immediately  and  in  closest 
conjunction  with  the  fulfilled  conditions  of  the  law  of  holiness,  the  blood 
cleanses. 

And  now  I  call  you  to  notice  a  few  specific  features  of  this  miral  condition  : 
"  The  blood  of  Je.sus  Christ,  his  Son,  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin."  And  the 
first  point  that  attracts  us  is  its  comprehensiveness.  "  All  sin  !"  There  is 
one  passage  in  the  Scripture  more  frequently  misquoted  than  otherwise.  It 
is  John's  announcement  of  the  Lamb's  mission  among  men.  He  said,  as  he 
pointed  to  the  Saviour,  just  baptized  into  his  earthly  ministry,  "  Behold  the 
Lamb  of  God,  which  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world."  We  misquote,  and 
say  "  sins."  The  fact  is  true,  but  we  weaken  the  idea  in  this  rendering. 
He  does  take  away  "  sins ;"  he  covers  them  with  his  blood,  and  they  are 
never  remembered  against  us;  but  '-sins  "  are  the  fruit  of  sin,  and  the  re- 
moval of  sin  as  a  principle,  a  radical  and  dreadful  soul-disease,  is  the  funda- 
mental will  of  the  atonement.  The  blood  cleanses  not  merely  from  sins  coui- 
mitted,but  it  goes  down  also  to  the  foundations  of  corrupt,  sinful  nature,  and 
takes  away  the  sin  of  the  heart,  and  thus  the  sin  of  the  world.  AH  sin  ? — 
Yes,  all  sin.     Glory  to  the  Lamb  forever  ! 

There  are  some  mighty  words  in  Scripture.  In  nature,  we  find  the  great 
Creator  stooping,  with  infinite  tenderness,  to  construct  and  protect  the  deli- 
cate lily,  and  we  behold  his  tremendous  energies  illustrated  in  the  vast  forms 
of  river,  and  cataract,  and  storm.  So  there  are  sweet  and  delicate  senti- 
ments here  in  this  Bible,  that  breathe  the  heavenly  tenderness  of  the  heart 
that  spoke  them ;  and  there  are  also  mighty  words  that  come  sweeping  along 
with  ail  the  fullness  and  grandeur  of  the  Divine  Omnipotence.  They  are  the 
Amazons  and  Mississippis  of  grace.  Such  words  are  these:  "Whosoever," 
'•  Whatsoever"  and  this  mighty  word  "  Ail"  in  the  connection  here  found  It 
p.-ociaiuis  God's  intent.  All  sin  is  to  be  cleansed  away.  It  may  have  had 
forty  years  the  start  of  Jesus  in  your  soul.  It  may  have  intrenched  itself 
behind  strong  fortifications,  and  wrought  itself  into  the  most  degrading  and 
cjntroUiug  appetites,  until  your  eye  is  full  of  lust,  and  your  thoughts  full  of 


158  SIXTEENTH   NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

evil;  until  your  imagination  is  utterly  covered  with  corrupt  pictures,  and 
your  affections  are  trailing  along  the  track  of  the  lowest  objects  ;  until  your 
whole  spirit,  soul  and  body  are  subjected  to  the  foulest  depravity — the  blood 
can  cleanse  it  all  away.  It  can  enter  the  imagination  and  paint  there  the 
pictures  of  heaven.  It  can  enter  the  mind  and  subject  every  thought  to 
God.  It  can  purify  the  body  and  purge  the  affections.  It  can  seize  the 
fiery  steeds  of  appetite  and  passion,  and  curb  them  into  the  sweetness  of 
heaven.  All  sin  is  under  the  control  of  the  blood.  To  remove  it,  all  and 
forever,  the  mighty  victim  died  ! 

This  is  the  pivotal  idea  of  the  gospel.  To  this  every  experience  of  grace 
points.  This  was  the  sum  of  the  war-challenge  made  by  Grod  to  Satan  amid 
the  devastations  of  Eden.  To  this  end  the  battle  wages.  Every  victory  is  a 
prophecy — and  only  a  prophecy — of  this  the  crowning  victory,  that  all  sin  is 
cleansed  away.  A  conquering  army  may  pursue  the  foe  from  one  point  to 
another,  raising  its  triumphant  banners  at  each  stage  of  its  progress,  but  if 
at  last  the  war  settles  into  a  siege,  the  shout  of  final  conquest  delays.  A 
besieging  army  is  defeated  as  long  as  it  remains  necessitated  to  that  condition. 
It  is  not  until  it  has  plauted  its  banners  over  the  last  citadel  to  be  surren- 
dered that  it  can  raise  the  full  shout  of  complete  victory.  Oh,  beloved,  as 
long  as  Christ  is  held  as  a  besieging  army  in  relation  to  any  unsaved  part  or 
faculty  of  our  being,  we  cannot  raise  the  shout  of  complete  triumph  !  We 
have  had  victories,  many  and  glorious,  but  at  the  unsurrendered  point  there 
is  the  silence  of  defeat.  Let  the  blood  come  to  that  point.  Let  Christ  in  ; 
let  him  in. now,  and  you  will  have  the  gospel  shout  ringing  through  every 
fibre  of  your  being;  a  present  shout,  echoing  every  "moment,  increased  by 
every  new  faculty  and  possession  as  it  comes  into  consciousness  and  is  put 
under  the  fountain.  "The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  his  Son,  cleanseth  us 
(me)  from  all  sin."  Oh,  hallelujah  to  Grod  for  the  power  that  bestows  on  us 
the  privilege  of  proclaiming  such  a  victory  I 

2.  I  ask  you  to  notice  now  the  peculiar  physical  term  employed  to  denote 
this  moral  condition.  The  blood  cleanseth !  It  makes  clean  by  washing. 
Washing  always  means  purification.  It  would  be  absurd  to  think  of  washing 
if  cleanliness  was  not  the  intent.  And,  in  washing,  the  removal  of  all 
impurities  is  the  purpose,  according  to  the  capacity  of  the  agencies  used  in 
the  process.  If  there  is  failure,  it  must  be  in  these,  for  all  the  declarations, 
the  commands,  the  promises,  the  symbols  and  the  experiences  of  the  gospel 
announce  purity  of  heart  as  our  privilege  and  duty  now,  while  in  the  flesh. 
And,  all  glory  be  to  Jesus  forever,  multitudes  of  witnesses  do  testify  to  the 
possibility  of  this  state  by  a  clear  and  conscious  enjoyment  of  the  experience. 

But  perhaps  you  point  me  to  some  who  claim  this  cleansing,  and  have 
certain  weaknesses  and  infirmities.  Well,  what  this  blood  proposes  to  do  is 
to  cleanse,  to  purify;  and  there  may  be  infirmities  growing  from  ignorance,  a 
lack  of  judgment,  or  other  similar  sources  perfectly  compatible  with  such 
purity.  When  a  garment  is  washed  it  is  thoroughly  clean,  but  the  holes  in 
it  are  to  be  repaired  by  other  appliances  than  water.  So  it  may  be  true  <hat 
some  defects  exist  where  the  Divine  cleansing  has  been  wrought.  JJut  I 
afllirm  it  here  as  my  positive  conviction  that  a  pure  heart  will  wonderfully 
correct  other  powers  that  need  other  repairs  beside  cleansing.  This  salvation 
is  for  the  character.     God  does  not  propose  to  make  a  man  an  astronomer  or 


A   MODERN  PENTECOST.  159 

a  scholar  of  secular  knowledge  by  washing  him  from  sin,  neither  does  he 
promise  in  this  cleansing  to  substitute  it  for  all  other  modes  of  culture  and 
effort  in  attaining  proper  results.  It  is  cleansing — a  purifying  of  the  entire 
being — a  washing  of  spirit,  soul  and  body. 

But  this  cleansing  implies  strength  as  well  as  purity.  To  no  small  degree 
is  every  faculty  of  the  nature  empowered  by  the  removal  of  all  sin.  A  pure 
imagination  is  a  vigorous  one.  Images  of  the  beautiful,  and  pictures  by  the 
divine  limner  are  all  over  its  walls.  The  intellect  may  not  have  been  trained 
in  the  scholastic  halls,  but  its  thoughts,  springing  from  the  pure  inspirations 
of  Grod,  are  strong  and  healthy.  The  aifections,  no  longer  weakened  by 
twining  around  forbidden  or  doubtful  objects,  are  raised  to  an  intensity  of 
strength  hitherto  undreamed  of.  In  fact,  every  power  is  renewed  with  a 
vigorous  vitality.  The  proper  passions  and  appetites  are  gloriously  intensi- 
fied in  their  several  directions  of  exercise.  Every  love  is  deepened  and 
strengthened.  You  loved  deeply  and  truly  as  you  plighted  your  vows  at  the 
marriage  altar,  but  I  assure  you  the  cleansing  blood  of  Christ  will  make  that 
love  deeper  and  richer  than  ever  it  was  before.  If  it  does  not,  your  experi- 
ence will  not  be  like  mine.  Oh,  how  we  love,  when  we  love  with  a  cleansed 
heart ! 

3.  I  want  you  to  observe,  in  the  next  place,  the  remarkable  instrument- 
ality by  which  this  moral  cleansing  is  effected.  The  Mood  of  Jesus  Christ ! 
Wonderful  arrangement,  this  !  Sinners  saved,  sinners  purified  by  blood,  and 
that  the  blood  of  the  Son  of  God !  This  is  a  mystery  too  deep  for  solution. 
I  cannot  measure  the  mighty  meaning  of  this  symbol.  I  can  see  how  water 
can  be  the  symbol  of  purity.  I  can  understand  how  the  clear,  sparkling 
water  can  wash  and  cleanse,  and  thus  be  used  as  a  symbol  of  spiritual  clean- 
liness. And  so  I  come  to  catch  the  spirit  of  the  promise  made  through  the 
prophet  of  old :  "  I  will  sprinkle  clean  water  upon  you,  and  you  shall  be 
clean.     From  all  your  filthiness  and  from  all  your  idols  I  will  cleanse  you." 

And  I  can  see  the  symbolic  use  of  the  element  of  fire,  through  the  Old 
and  the  New  Testament.  Fire  is  a  purifier.  It  will  hold  the  native  metal 
in  its  fiery  grasp,  until  the  sordid  and  base  therein  is  burned  out,  and  the 
refiner  can  see  his  face  reflected  in  the  purified  material.  I  can  somehow 
appreciate  that  when  the  pure  God  would  descend  to  this  sin-defiled  earth, 
the  symbol  of  his  presence  should  be  fire.  When  he  would  guide,  it  should 
be  with  a  pillar  of  fire ;  when  he  would  vindicate  his  pure  authority,  and 
leave  himself  a  testimony  in  the  midst  of  idolatry,  he  came  in  showers  of 
fire ;  when  he  would  purify  his  chosen  ones,  he  permitted  them  to  be  thrown 
into  the  burning  furnace,  and  then  walked  sweetly  therein  with  them,  that 
they  should  not  be  harmed.  Flames  of  fire,  pillars  of  fire,  tongues  of  fire ! 
Great  symbol  of  purity,  we  see  it  in  every  dispensation ;  but  here  is  a 
symbol  with  a  deeper  significance.  It  appears  early  in  human  history.  It  is 
by  blood  we  come  to  God  and  are  made  pure.  Abel  was  accepted  because 
his  sacrifice  could  bleed.  The  angel  saw  the  sprinkled  blood  as  he  went 
on  his  errand  of  death  among  the  dwellings  of  Egypt.  He  wondered  as  he 
looked,  and  he  wondered  again  when  he  saw  the  mighty  Victim  on  the  cross, 
sprinkling  the  throne  of  grace  with  precious  blood  for  sinners  shed.  Oh,, what 
heaps  of  sacrifices  along  the  ages  !  Blood,  blood,  everywhere  !  The  new  Tes- 
tament opens,  the  new  dispensation  comes,  and  still  the  blood  appears.     But 


160  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

now  the  symbolic  idea  lias  gone.  And  the  atonement  uncovers  its  mighty  mys- 
teries :  "If  the  blood  of  bulls,  and  of  goats,  and  the  ashes  of  an  heifer  sprinkling 
'  the  unclean,  sanctifleth  to  the  purifying  of  the  flesh,  hoio  much  more  shall  the 
blood  of  the  Son  of  God,  who,  through  the  Eternal  Spirit,  offered  himself  without 
spot  to  God,  purge  your  consciences  from  dead  works  to  serve  the  living  God  !" 
Oh  yes.  it  is  by  blood  you  are  to  be  purified  !  Oh,  my  soul,  what  does  it  mean  !  I 
go  to  the  Mount  of  Calvary,  and  I  kneel  amid  the  bones  of  crucified  criminals, 
by  the  death-bed  of  God's  only  Son,  and  I  ask,  what  is  all  this  for?  and  he 
answers,  "  All  for  thee  ;  for  thy  pardon,  for  thy  purity  !"  Yes  but  my  sins  are 
as  scarlet !  "  Yet  I  will  make  them  white  as  snow."  But  they  are  red  like 
crimson  !  "  Yet  I  will  make  them  as  wool."  Oh,  let  all  my  powers  give  him 
glory !  His  blood  does  fully  save.  It  cleanses  even  from  all  sin.  It  is  by 
blood  then.  The  cross  at  the  beginning,  the  cross  in  the  progress,  and  the  cross 
at  the  end.  "\Ve  shall  never  get  beyond  the  blood  A  voice  from  the  other 
side  of  the  grave  attests  this.  1  look  beyond  the  river :  I  see  those  golden 
gates,  not  left  ajar,  as  the  poet  sings,  but  lifted  high,  and  as  I  am  looking  far 
up  the  shining  sea,  I  see  the  countless  host  of  pure  ones  bowing  before  the  ex- 
alted Lamb.  I  hear  the  burden  of  their  song  :  "  Unto  him  that  loveth  us  and 
washeth  us  from  our  sins  in  his  own  blood  . .  unto  him  be  glory  and  dominion 
forever  !"  And  to  this  our  hearts  respond.  We  are  washed,  we  are  cleansed 
by  blood.  All  glory  to  the  Lamb  ;  the  saints  in  heaven,  and  the  saints  on  earth 
have  this  one  song :   "  The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin." 

II.  With  this  cleansing  is  an  associated  moral  state,  most  precious  and  blessed. 
It  is  soul-fellowship  with  God.  In  this  practical  and  material  age  the  tendency 
is  to  hurried  devotion.  No  objection  is  taken  to  family  prayer,  and  a  daily  chap- 
ter in  the  Bible  and  a  weekly  religious  meeting,  with  a  few  other  ordinary  ob- 
servances, but  we  are  advised  to  be  careful  of  protracted  communion  before 
God  less  we  become  mystical  and  unpractical.  Now  I  have  a  strong  confidence 
that  great  religious  power  comes  through  a  proper  observance  of  any  spiritual 
means,  there  is  power  in  brief  ejaculatory  petitions  and  praises  lifted  up  on  the 
street,  in  the  oflice,  and  in  the  home ;  but  if  you  want  close  and  intimate  fellow- 
ship with  God,  you  must  tarry  with  him.  And  as  the  blood  cleanses  you,  you 
will  do  it.  You  will  long  to  do  it.  Oh,  the  giant  saints  of  the  earth  have 
waited  in  the  heavenly  presence  until  they  have  caught  the  heavenly  glory  and 
power.  And  we  must  do  it  if  we  would  know  the  fullest  joys  of  soul- compan- 
ionship with  God. 

Such  fellowship  as  this  is  the  ground  of  spiritual  conformity  with  God.  We 
take  on  his  glorious  nature  as  the  weaker  is  lifted  into  and  becomes  absorbed 
into  the  stronger.  We  become  partakers  of  his  choice  bestowments ;  yea,  it  is 
in  this  close  i'ellowship  of  a  cleansed  heart  with  God  that  we  come  really  to  see 
him.  The  pure  in  heart  see  God.  They  think  like  him,  they  act  like  him, 
they  feel  like  him,  in  the  measure  that  his  Holy  Spirit  can  occupy  and  work 
out  through  their  human  faculties. 

Again,  this  fellowship  is  the  foundation  of  spiritual  beauty.  Oh,  the  beauty 
of  holiness!  Oh,  the  beauty  of  a  soul  that  is  cleansed,  and  whose  intercourse 
with  the  Father  through  the  Eternal  Spirit  is  expressed  by  the  words,  ''  Fellow- 
ship with  God."  And  the  soul's  precious  fellowship  with  God  makes  a  beau- 
tiful tr.msformation  of  every  part  of  us.  I  have  seen  the  most  homely  faces 
radiant  with  beauty,  as  the  blood-washed  soul  within  has  leaned  in  trustful  com- 
munion upon  the  bosom  of  its  God. 


A   MODERN  PENTECOST.  161 

And  herein  is  spiritual  strength  also.  The  power  that  accompanies  us  and 
measures  our  need  in  every  place,  comes  from  keeping  our  cleansed  soul  in  con- 
stant communion  with  God  through  the  Spirit.  Oh,  how  small  our  earthly  and 
Satanic  antagonists  seem  when  we  have  come  from  a  waiting  upon  God  I  Oh, 
let  us  loait  upon  him  that  he  may  renew  our  strength  ! 

III.  But,  beloved,  notice  the  conditions  of  this  cleansing  and  communion. 
"If  we  walk  in  the  light,"  we  must  follow  the  Spirit.  The  Spirit  is  light. 
Walk  in  it,  and  it  will  lead  to  and  apply  the  blood.  But  observe  the  light  is 
always  through  the  word.  "  Ye  are  clean  through  the  word,"  says  Christ. 
And  again,  "  Sanctify  them  through  Thy  truth  ;  Thy  word  is  truth."  If  you 
follow  the  Spirit  as  it  illuminates  the  word,  and  follow  it  with  all  self-depen- 
dences removed,  you  will  come  right  to  the  cleansing  fountniQ. 

As  you  are  frequently  told  by  those  who  have  experience  of  this  precious 
grace  of  a  cleansed  heart,  the  Holy  Spirit  will  lead  you  to  receive  heart-purity 
through  simple  faith  in  the  promise  of  God.  And,  oh,  it  is  the  joy  of  my 
heart  to-night  to  add  my  testimony  to  others,  confirming  thus  their  experience 
and  the  word  of  God  !  I  had  lived  a  life  of  justification  for  several  year.s, 
having  many  previous  experiences  of  the  love  and  favor  of  God.  But  my 
soul  often  longed  and  hungered  for  heart-purity.  A  fevf  years  ago  I  attended 
a  camp-meeting  in  Connecticut,  and  resolved  by  God's  help,  I  would  enter 
into  the  desired  rest.  I  retired  to  the  woods,  knelt  upon  a  flat  rock,  and, 
writing  out  a  covenant  on  the  fly-leaf  of  my  Testament,  I  commenced  to  pray ; 
and  I  prayed  until  it  seemed  as  if  my  soul  became  as  dry  and  birren  as  a 
desert.  I  felt  worse  than  I  did  before  I  began,  but  I  resolved  to  pray  on  ;  for 
to  live  longer  without  the  blessing  I  could  not.  At  last  the  word  came, 
"  you  have  asked,  now  believe."  I  said,  "  Iwill,  I  do  believe.  The  vow  is 
made  and  God  accepts  the  ofi"ering,  and  the  blood  does  now  cleanse  me  from 
all  sin."  I  arose  and  returned  to  the  encampment.  A  strange  barrenness 
possessed  me,  but  a  quiet,  subdued  softness  of  soul  was  beneath  it.  Five 
hours  passed,  and  still  I  said,  "  'Tis  done  ',  the  blood  does  save ;"  when  as  I 
was  singing  the  couplet : 

"  And  there  do  I,  though  vile  as  he, 
Wash  all  my  sins  away." 

the  baptism  came — the  witness  was  given.  Hallelujah  to  Jesus  !  He  saves 
me  to  night.  Now  I  tell  it  everywhere,  in  my  pulpit,  in  my  pastorate,  in  my 
family,  I  love  to  tell  it,  and  that  it  comes  by  simple  faith.  Oh,  let  us  come 
this  moment,  and  standing  upon  the  promise,  lighted  up  by  the  blessed  Holy 
Spirit,  let  us  now  give  ourselves  away,  and  believe  that  the  "  blood  of  Jesus 
Christ  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin  !" 


The  foregoing  discourse  was  listened  to  with  delightful  surprise.  The 
preacher  was  a  stranger,  but  immediately  won  the  entire  sympathy  of  the 
large  body  of  ministers  around  him,  and  elicited,  by  the  force,  fluency,  and 
convincing  earnestness  of  his  words,  the  undivided  attention  of  a  very  large 
audience.  Brother  Inskip  said,  at  the  close  of  the  sermon,  "  I  do  not  see 
why  we  cannot  all  be  saved  to  the  uttermost  this  very  night.  I  wish  I  could 
11 


162  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL    CAMP-MEETING. 

teli  you  what  I  said  when  I  was  seeking  religion.  A  class-leader  came  along 
where  I  was  kneeling,  and  asked  me : 

"  '  Boy,  dost  thou  believe  that  God  is  able  to  save  thee  ?' 

"  I  answered,  '  Yes.' 

'• '  Dost  thou  believe  that  he  is  willing  to  save  thee  ?' 

'•  Yes." 

"  '  Well,  my  lad,'  he  said  tenderly,  '  do  you  believe  that  he  does  save  you 
now  T 

"  'Yes' — and  I  was  saved  in  a  moment.  Now,  just  what  happened  when 
I  said  '  yes '  I  never  could  tell  ;  but  it  brought  salvation. 

"  God  put  me  in  a  corner  once.  I  was  telling  the  people  how  they  must 
lay  aside  every  weight,  and  let  go  all  for  Christ ;  and  the  Spirit  said  distinctly 
to  me,  '  Do  it  yourself.'  I  could  not  refuse ;  so  I  replied,  '  I  dt),  here  and 
now,  consecrate  my  whole  being  to  God.' 

"  Then  a  thick  darkness  gathered  around  me.  Not  a  ray  of  light.  Still, 
I  felt  I  must  go  forward,  although  I  could  see  nothing  to  step  out  upon.  So 
I  went  forward  and  said,  '  I  declare  that  I  am  now  and  forever  all  the  Lord's.' 
In  a  moment  God  let  a  little  heaven  burst  in  upon  my  soul. 

"  There  are  people  on  this  ground  who  are  high  in  position  in  the  Methodist 
Church,  who  are  opposed  to  this  experience,  and  to  these  meetings.  They 
know  they  are  not  fully  saved,  and  their  children  are  not  saved.  They  know 
they  are  in  their  children's  way,  and  it  is  fearfully  possible  they  may  see  them 
lost,  and  the  blood  of  their  own  children  will  be  upon  their  heads. 

"  0  Lord,  take  hold  of  these  people !  Who  is  on  the  Lord's  side  ?  How 
many  of  you  do  feel  that  you  are  fully  cleansed  by  the  blood  of  Christ  ? 
Raise  your  hands." 

Many  hands  went  up. 

"  Do  you  know  this,  without  a  doubt  ?" 

Affirmative  answers  were  given. 

"  Now  I  want  to  know  how  many  of  you  desire  to  have  this  experience  to- 
night.    Raise  your  hands." 

The  hands  were  lifted. 

"  But  your  neighbors  and  your  children  may  not  know  that  it  is  your  hand 
that  is  raised.     Will  you  stand  up  ?" 

A  large  number  stood  up. 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say  that  you  want  it  now  V 

"  Yes." 

"  If  any  of  you  are  ashamed  of  your  position,  and  prefer  to  sit  down,  you 
can  do  so." 

We  noticed  but  one  person  who  sat  down. 

"  Now  come  forward  and  let  us  have  a  season  of  prayer.  Each  one  must 
pray  and  believe  for  himself" 


A   MODERN  PENTECOST.  163 

After  a  short  interval,  Mr.  Inskip  announced — "I  have  a  telegram  from 
our  Heavenly  Father.  It  is  this  :  '  Every  one  that  asketh  receiveth  '  Here 
is  another  :  It  reads,  'Ask  what  ye  will  in  my  name,  and  I  will  do  it.'  Tel- 
egrams come  fast.     Here  is  another." 

He  thus  proceeded  to  announce  promises,  which  were  appropriated  by  the 
kneeling  multitude  around  him,  until  it  appeared  as  if  the  mighty  power  of 
God  rested  on  all  present.  People  were  so  wrapped  up  in  contemplation,  or 
excited  by  new  sensations,  that  they  were  weeping,  shouting,  or  silent  and 
prostrate  on  the  ground,  with  a  consciousness  that  God  was  nigh  to  save. 

"  This  is  but  the  beginning  of  victory,"  said  Brother  Inskip.  "  I  expect 
to  see  this  ground  inundated  with  salvation,  and  every  one  of  you  so  filled 
with  heavenly  unction,  that  you  will  go  around  these  tents  and  cottages,  and 
bring  every  sinner  to  Jesus. 

"  Now  sing  the  doxology.  Sing  it  again  ;  you  did  not  all  sing.  Every 
voice  and  every  heart  ring  it  out — • 

" '  Praise  God  from  whom  all  blessings  flow.'  " 


SEVENTH  DAY. 
TUESDAY    MORNING. 


After  a  refreshing  season  of  prayer,  it  was  proposed  that  those  who  had  juat 
been  blessed,  speak  first. 

A  preacher :  "  I  feel  that  I  have  been  invited  specially  to  speak.  I  have 
just  been  blessed.  I  have  been  a  mourner  here.  I  wanted  a  new  touch  of 
power.  There  has  been  too  much  sourness  about  me.  In  our  work  we  meet 
with  peculiar  obstacles — men  still  clinging  to  the  Zinzendorf  theory,  who  ought  to 
know  that  it  has  been  exploded  a  thousand  times,  as  mischievous  and  false.  I  want 
more  sweetness  of  temper.  I  sent  in  a  request  yesterday  for  prayer.  You  heard 
it  read,  and  probably  joined  in  prayer  for  that  Central  Pennsylvania  Conference 
preacher.  I  am  the  man.  I  became  sick.  This  is  how  God  answered  it.  I 
got  very  sick.  I  died  unto  sin  last  night.  In  looking  for  a  promise,  the  Lord 
gave  me  this — '  I  will  circumcise  thy  heart,'  &c.  I  said  amen,  Lord !  Then 
the  bottom  of  glory  fell  out,  and  down  came  the  power,  streaming  all  over  me. 


164  SIXTEENTH   NATIONAL    CAMP-MEETING. 

I  want  to  be  so  filled  that  I  shall  fear  neither  men  or  devils,  and  see  this  cause 
go  on.  0  God — my  Father,  my  Redeemer,  my  Comforter,  glorify  thyself  in 
me !" 

"  I  have  been  pointed  out  as  the  *  rowdy  Methodist,'  because  I  have  to  make 
a  joyful  noise  unto  God.  Brethren,  he  has  given  me  a  perfect  hatred  of  the 
things  I  once  loved,  and  put  in  me  a  conscience  quick  as  the  apple  of  an  eye, 
the  least  approach  of  sin  to  feel." 

"  I  almost  envy  this  brother  who  has  just  spoken.  I  feel  that  after  lead- 
ing a  class  twenty  years  without  seeking  for  myself,  or  telling  others  of  the 
sweet  joys  of  purity,  I  am  one  of  the  meanest  men  in  the  world.  I  am  in  a 
condition  now,  blessed  be  God  !  to  do  a  little  better." 

*'  Two  years  ago  the  blood  cleansed  me,  and  I  have  been  endowed  here  with 
power  to  hold  up  the  banner  of  holiness  when  I  return  home." 

Others  referred  to  similar  experience — the  need  of  more  power. 

"Yoa  see  here,"  said  a  Presbyterian  layman,  "  a  brother  who  has  been  driven 
out  of  his  Church  for  professing  the  grace  that  fully  saves.  Glory  to  God, 
I  feel  I  can  go  back  in  the  face  of  it  all,  and  tell  them  I  am  sanctified — as 
Paul  prayed — sanctified  wholly." 

"  I  rejoice  that  I  can  return  and  tell  my  class  that  I  am  saved — cleansed 
from  all  sin.     Yes,  from  all  sin." 

"  Three  of  us,  leaders,  came  up  to  this  feast  of  Pentecost,  to  obtain  full 
salvation.  Glory  to  Jesus,  he  has  saved  us  all,  and  filled  us  with  perfect 
love.  I  feel  now  like  a  man  who  has  plenty  in  bank  that  he  can  draw  upon 
whenever  he  needs  it." 

Bro.  White — "I  gave  a  word  of  testimony  this  morning,  and  wish  now  to 
make,  a  correction.  I  gave  all  up — goods,  time,  family,  self,  all  consecrated. 
Yesterday,  as  sister  Smith  prayed,  the  power  I  so  much  lacked  came  on  me — 
courage  to  be  crucified  for  Christ,  if  necessary.  I  raised  my  hand,  deter- 
mined to  die  rather  than  go  back.  Last  night  there  came  a  tide  of  faith. 
'  What  are  you  going  to  ask?'  was  suggested.  '  Courage,  power,  the  sancti- 
fication  of  my  whole  Church.'  I'll  believe  God  if  it  costs  me  my  life.  When- 
ever I  am  tempted  to  falter,  wherever  I  am,  I'll  hold  up  this  hand,  and  keep 
it  up."     Shouts  of  ("  Amen  !"  ) 

"I,  too,  had  to  die.  Death  must  come  before  resurrection.  Now  I  livej 
yet  not  I ;  Christ  lives  in  me."     Singing — 

"  The  cross  for  Christ  I'll  cherish, 

Its  crucifixion  bear : 
All  hail  reproach  aud  sorrow, 
If  Jesus  lead  me  there." 

Spontaneously  every  hand  went  up  as  these  lines  were  sung,  and  as  tlic 
chorus  was  repeated  the  whole  congregation,  weeping,  shouting  aud  vowing 
fidelity  to  Jesus,  started  to  their  feet. 


A    MODERN    PENTECOST.  165 


ANOTHER  LOVE-FEAST. 


Bro.  Inskip  conducted  the  services  at  8  A.  M.,  wliich  assumed  tlie  character 
of  a  genuine  love-feast. 

After  a  hearty  hymn  and  prayer,  passages  of  Scripture  were  called  for  and 
given  by  the  people,  some  rising  in  the  most  remote  part  of  the  audience  to 
quote  a  text,  which  might  be  profitable  for  doctrine,  reproof,  encouragement, 
and  instruction  in  righteousness. 

"  Now,"  said  the  leader,  "  of  necessity  the  testimony  must  be  short.  Twenty 
five-minute  speeches  here  would  occupy  an  hour ;  may  we  not  have  fifty  or  sixty 
in  that  space  of  time  ?     Let  us  try.     I  am  gloriously  saved  this  morning  !" 

"  Fourteen  years  ago  I  started  on  this  line.  Instead  of  seeking  Jesus,  he 
sought  me,  and  he  saves  me  now." 

"  I  did  not  come  here  to  enjoy  the  society  of  friends,  or  the  recreations  of  the 
tented  grove  ;  but  to  find  this  great  salvation.  I  can  testify,  he  saves  me  won- 
derfully." 

"  I  love  God  with  all  my  heart,  and  my  will  is  sweetly  lost  in  his." 

"  I  take  no  credit  (said  Bro.  Barker)  for  loving  Jesus  ;  but  it  is  an  infinite 
mercy  and  condescension  that  Jesus  loves  me,  for  I  was  such  a  miserable  and 
unlovable  creature." 

"  In  the  midst  of  all  my  cares  (Bro.  C.  I.  Thompson)  providing  for  the  tem- 
poral wants  of  the  people  here,  I  have  been  sustained  and  sweetly  saved,  as 
if  I  had  no  care  or  trouble.     Praise  the  Lord." 

"  I  bless  God  that  I  know  for  myself,  the  blood  of  Jesus  cleases  me." 

"  I  feel  a  constant  shrinking  to  go  forward.  It  seems  I  need  more  grace  than 
anybody  else,  but  I  have  learned  here  to  trust  Jesus  fully,  and  I  know  he  will 
not  let  me  fall." 

"  When  I  draw  nigh  to  God,  he  draws  nigh  to  me,  and  I  love  to  trust  him." 

"  Years  ago  I  read  Timothy  Merritt's  book  on  holiness.  I  had  no  one  to  in- 
quire of  as  to  how  I  might  obtain  this  great  blessing ;  but  I  wrestled  in  prayer 
before  God  at  my  home,  until  he  filled  my  soul  with  perfect  love.  I  went  to 
my  pastor  and  told  him  what  I  felt.  He  asked  me  :  'Do  you  feel  any  more 
rising  of  anger  or  pride  ?'  I  said, '  No. '  Then  said  he,  '  You  have  the  blessing, 
and  the  witness  of  it  will  come.'  It  did  come,  sure  enough.  Sometimes  the 
flame  burnt  low,  but  I  nursed  it  up.  I  had  to  testify  all  alone,  and  doing  so  I 
never  lost  this  pledge  of  love.  I  can  now  rejoice  in  the  salvation  of  all  my 
children,  and  the  raising  up  of  a  great  cloud  of  witnesses  to  the  gi'ace  that  saves 
from  all  sin." 

"  I  have  enjoyed  full  salvation  for  five  years,  but  never  quite  so  fall  as  now. 
It  is  pressed  down,  shaken  together,  and  running  over.  All  is  well.  Bless  the 
Lord." 


166  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETINQ. 

"  The  highest  aspiration  of  my  heart  is  to  say  in  downright  sincerity  and  re- 
signation, '  Thy  will  be  done.'  " 

"Jesus  saves  me  all  the  time." 

"I  used  to  have  daily  concern  to  keep  my  religion;  but  now  all  anxiety  is  re- 
moved ;  I  trust  Jesus  and  my  religion  keeps  me." 

"  The  peace  of  Christ  malies  fresh  my  heart, 
A  fountain  ever  springing  ; 
All  things  are  mine  since  I  am  His, 
How  can  I  keep  from  singing." 

"Praise  God!  I  cannot  keep  from  telling  my  friends  and  neighbors  how 
precious  Jesus  is,  and  they  rejoice  with  me." 

"  I  used  to  drink  wine,  and  all  I  gained  was  headache  ;  but  this  wine  of  the 
kingdom  makes  my  heart  glad.     And  it  is  without  money  and  without  price." 

"No,  brother;  it  cost  the  great  price  of  Jesus'  blood — 

"Jesus'  blood  hath  healed  my  wound, 

0  the  wondrous  story  ; 
I  ouce  was  lost  but  now  am  found, 
Glory,  glory,  glory  !" 

"  I  can  say  I  am  saved.  Jesus  died  to  save,  and  I  believe  it ;  but  I  cannot 
say  I  am  cleansed. 

Bro.  luskip — "Believe  that,  too,  sister,  and  declare  it— the  blood  cleanses." 

"I  was  two  whole  years  dying.  I  now  feel  that  I  am  dead  to  sin.  I  am 
nothing  at  all.  Jesus  Christ  is  my  all  in  all.  He  lives  in  the  temple  of  my 
heart." 

"  Forty  years,"  said  Dr.  Nast,  "  have  I  been  learning  the  depths  of  this  re- 
deeming love ;  how  it  reached  down  even  to  me.  Two  years  ago  I  began  to 
learn  the  heights  of  this  love.  I  am  also  trying  to  comprehend  its  length  and 
breadth.     0  what  a  theme  for  eternity  !" 

"  When  I  heard  the  request  read  for  the  entire  sanctification  of  a  class  leader, 
I  thought  it  was  surely  me  was  meant ;  and  whether  or  not,  I  felt  I  must  have 
this  blessing.     Help  me  by  your  prayers." 

"Jesus  is  mine.     His  love  fills  my  heart." 

"  I  only  want  to  say,  I  am  a  poor  sinner,  saved  by  grace ;  but,  0  how  rich 
and  free  this  grace  has  been  manifested  to  me.     I  am  all  the  liord's." 

Dr.  Levy—"  I  am  glad  to  hear  one  of  the  members  of  my  church  testifying 
for  Jesus  and  full  salvation  here.  At  this  meeting  I  have  received  a  rich  bap- 
tism of  love.  Go  out  in  the  early  morning,  and  you  will  see  a  dewdrop  on 
every  blade  of  grass;  look  again  in  an  hour  or  two,  and  you  will  find  the  sun 
ha.s  absorbed  them  all.  Just  so  the  Son  of  Righteousness  has  taken  us  all  up 
into  himself" 

Bro.  Foote — "  There  are  some  doctors  of  divinity  for  whom  I  have  a  pro- 
found respect,  but  as  to  you.  Dr.  Levy,  my  heart's  strongest  tendrils  entwine 
around  you  with  the  sweetest  tenderness,  and  the  purest  affection."     Here  these 


A   MODERN    PENTECOST.  167 

two  brethren  clasped  hands,  then  placed  their  arms  around  each  other's  neck, 
while  the  faces  of  the  people  were  bathed  in  teai'S,  and  shouts  arose  all  over  the. 
cingregation.  The  impulse  of  the  two  manly  Christian  hearts,  leading  to  such 
a  loving  embrace,  affected  all,  and  was  but  a  representative  act;  for  all  were 
melted  and  drawn  by  the  same  spirit  to  love  one  another. 

Bro.  Searles — "I  have  been  wonderfully  blessed  at  this  meeting.  In  my 
early  experience  I  used  to  shout  a  good  deal ;  but  I  was  fully  sanctified  in 
such  a  quiet  meeting,  that  if  anybody  had  spoken  aloud  to  me  it  seemed  as 
though  it  would  have  killed  me.  I  enjoy  a  quiet  or  a  noisy  meeting,  just  as 
it  comes ;  for  I  am  in  harmony  with  whatever  course  the  Spirit  leads." 

Bro.  Davies — "  There  is  a  deep,  surging  river  of  salvation  flowing  through 
my  soul.     It  runs  so  deep  it  makes  but  little  noise,  but  it  still  flows  on." 

Bro.  Inskip — "  God  bless  you,  Bro.  Davies." 

A  minister — "  I  heard  Father  Merrill,  of  New  England,  once  exclaim,  '  0 
the  luxury  of  a  tender  heart!'  I  am  enjoying  that  luxury  to-day.  The  timid- 
ity of  my  nature  is  being  overcome  by  a  sense  of  obligation  to  honor  the 
Lord  who  bought  me.  I  am  following  on  to  apprehend  that  for  which  I  am 
apprehended;  and  if  in  anything  I  be  otherwise  minded,  Grod  will  reveal  even 
this  unto  me.  This  passage  suits  me  so  well  it  seems  as  if  it  was  put  in  the 
Bible  for  me  exclusively.  It  is  encouraging  to  know  that  if  there  is  anything 
I  have  not  given  up,  Crod  will  make  it  plain." 

Dr.  H.,  of  Baltimore,  said  he  was  living  these  times  on  "  Hallelujah  hill." 
"I  was  converted  in  1836,  was  baptized  into  the  spirit  of  labor  in  1842,  but- 
not  fully  saved  until  ten  years  after.  Then  I  was  emptied  of  sin  and  filled 
with  the  Holy  Ghost.  For  about  a  year  I  had  been  praying  a  hundred  times, 
a  day,  perhaps,  for  this  fullness.  While  in  my  office  one  day  I  received  a 
wonderful  blessing,  and  became  so  happy  that  I  began  to  shout.  One  of  my 
neighbors  came  in  and  inquired  what  was  the  matter.  I  told  him  I  did  not 
know,  only  that  God  had  saved  my  soul.  Ever  since  I  have  an  illuminated 
Bible.  I  went  to  my  pastor  and  told  him  my  experience.  He  remarked, 
'  You  have,  no  doubt,  received  a  great  blessing.'  I  said  'Yes,  I  have  had  many 
big  blessings,  but  they  were  not  like  this.'  That  dear  minister  now  under- 
stands it  himself  by  a  blessed  experience." 

Bro.  McDonald — "  I  heard  my  pastor  say,  for  I  have  a  pastor — Dr.  Steele 
of  Boston — that  it  seemed  to  him  God  was  trying  an  experiment  with  him,  to 
see  how  much  grace  he  could  pour  into  his  soul.  It  seemed  at  times  he  was 
sending  through  his  nature  a  very  Amazon  of  grace.  This  is  not  my  experi- 
ence, but  God  is  pouring  himself  into  my  soul.  I  had  a  great  conflict  at  the 
beginning  of  this  meeting.  Now  I  can  help  shout  the  victory.  Glory  be  to 
the  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost!" 

A  German  brother — "  When  Satan  appears  to  intimidate  me,  I  look  to 
Jesus,  and  Jesus  is  the  strongest.     He  is  Satan's  conqueror,  and  he  is  able  to 


168  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

keep  that  which  I  have  committed   to  him.     I  expect  to  gain  the  victory 
through  his  power." 

"I  can  safely  say,  this  morning — 

"My  all  to  Christ  I've  given, 
My  talents,  time  and  voice, 
Myself,  my  reputation, 

The  lone  way  is  my  choice." 

A  Presbyterian  brother — "  On  last  Sabbath  I  determined  I  would  have  this 
fullness  if  I  had  to  be  crucified.  Then  Jesus  appeared  a  glorious  Redeemer, 
and  saved  me  to  the  uttermost.  I  know  not  what  may  happen  in  my  sur- 
roundings; but  now  all  is  well.  This  is  most  like  what  J  think  Pentecost 
was,  of  any  meeting  I  ever  experienced  before." 

Bro.  Inskip  here  arose  and  directed  attention  to  another  subject.  "  I  am 
going,"  he  said,  "  to  put  a  strain  on  this  meeting — a  financial  strain.  You 
have  been  getting  happy.  Now  let  us  see  if  you  can  stand  your  ground 
while  a  collection  is  taken  up.  We  need  some  money  to  repair  damages. 
About  $200  have  been  expended  on  this  Tabernacle,  and  more  will  be  re- 
quired to  put  it  in  order  after  the  present  meeting.  We  need  $  300.  Are 
you  willing  to  give  this  amount  as  a  means  of  grace  ?" 

Yes,  they  eagerly  entertained  the  proposition,  and  in  a  very  few  minutes 
the  cry  was — "  Hold  up  ;  we  have  enough  !" 

While  the  rock  had  been  struck  and  the  stream  was  flowing,  Bro.  Perkins 
suggested  that  there  was  another  claim  on  the  kindness  of  the  people.  "Two 
of  our  brethren  laboring  here,  are  committed  to  the  work  of  Evangelists  with- 
out pastoral  charge,  or  any  regular  means  of  support.  Should  we  not  make  a 
contribution  toward  their  expenses  ?" 

Responses  were  heard  all  over  the  congregation.  Collectors  passed  round 
and  received  the  free-will  offerings  for  the  object  named,  and  in  eight  or  ten 
minutes  more  fioe  hundred  dollars  were  reported  as  a  contribution  towards 
expenses  of  Messrs.  Inskip  and  McDonald,  the  President  and  Vice  President 
of  the  National  Camp-meating  Association. 


MEMORIAL  SERVICES. 

On  the  assembling  of  the  congregation  in  front  of  the  main  stand,  Mr.  lo- 
hkip  proceeded  to  speak,  in  a  feeling  and  solemn  manner  of  the  deceased 
members  of  the  National  Association. 

He  said  :  '-The  National  Association  for  the  promotion  of  Holiness,  was  or- 
ganized at  Vineland.  A  committee  at  the  Vineland  Camp-meeting  fur  the 
promotion  of  holiness,  had  been  appointed,  to  make  arrangements  for  a  Na- 
tional meeting.  That  committee  being  called  together,  at  the  close  of  the 
Vineland  meeting,  resolved  to  hold  another  Camp-meeting  the  next  year 


A    MODERN    PENTECOST.  169 

and  a  sub-committee  was  appointed  to  make  the  necessary  arrangements. 
We  knelt  down  there  together,  a  few  of  us,  and  invoked  the  divine  blessing 
upon  us,  consecrating  ourselves  before  Grod,  on  our  knees,  for  the  work.  The 
organization  was  formed  in  the  act  and  attitude  of  prayer. 

"  It  was  suggested,  while  still  on  our  knees,  that  we  gather  more  closely  to- 
gether, (there  were  twelve  or  fourteen  of  us)  ;  we  did  so,  at  the  same  time 
joining  hands,  and  entered  into  a  compact,  that  by  God's  help  we  would  sus- 
tain each  other,  by  every  possible  means  in  the  great  work  of  spreading  this 
blessed  doctrine  of  entire  sanctification.  I  suggested  that  we  would  meet 
with  severe  criticism,  and  be  misrepresented  ;  and  we  then  and  there  coven- 
anted never  to  answer  any  criticism  that  might  be  made. 

"In  that  company  were  two  who  are  now  before  the  throne.  One  was  Al- 
fred Cookman,  who  led  that  little  band  in  the  prayer  of  consecration.  It  was 
the  most  sublime,  comprehensive,  faith-grasping  prayer  that  I  ever  heard  that 
man  of  God,  so  gifted,  so  earnest,  so  eloquent  as  he  often  was,  utter.  There 
knelt  with  us  also  the  Rev.  George  C.  Wells,  a  man  of  exceedingly  great  men- 
tal calibre,  and  of  extraordinary  pulpit  ability.  He  was  remarkable  for  direct- 
ness of  utterance,  for  clearness,  for  force.  Cookman's  last  utterances  com- 
bined, form  the  grand  sentiment  that  has  been  reverberating  over  the  coun- 
try, '  I'm  sweeping  through  the  gates,  washed  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.' 
Brother  Wells,  after  a  long,  fearful  and  painful  sickness,  passed  upwards  to 
meet  the  blood-washed  around  the  throne.  His  cherished  companion  said  to 
him,  '  What  shall  I  write  as  your  parting  word  to  the  National  Association  ?' 
'Tell  them"  said  he,  'I  am  clinging  to  the  cross,  and  as  I  am  passing 
through  the  valley  all  is  clear  and  light.'  He  lived  well,  and  died  better. 
We  have  a  few  resolutions  of  respect  to  offer,  which  we  wish  you  to  share 
with  us  as  a  declaration  of  our  respect  for  and  a  testimonial  to  his  valuable 
and  noble  memory.     Our  Secretary  will  read  them." 

Rev.  George  Hughes  then  read  the  following  resolutions  of  respect,  passed 
at  the  Landisville  National  Camp-meeting,  in  memory  of  Rev.  George  C. 
Wells. 

Whereas  a  wise  and  yet  inscrutable  Providence  has  removed  from  our 
midst  our  beloved  brother  and  fellow  laborer.  Rev.  Geo.  C.  Wells,  thereby 
subjecting  his  luuiily  to  a  heavy  bereavement,  and  depriving  the  Church  of  a 
devoted  minister;  therefore 

Resolved  1st,  That  while  we  bow  submissively  to  the  ordination  of  the 
Lord  Jehovah  in  this  matter,  we  are  painfully  affected  by  his  removal  from 
our  fellowship,  and  admonished  of  the  uncertainty  of  life,  and  the  importance 
of  constant  readiness  for  our  departure  to  the  eternal  world. 

Resolved  2d,  That  inasmuch  as  our  dear  brother  has  been  associated  with 
us  since  the  commencement  of  our  organization,  we  recall  with  pleasure  the 
many  seasons  of  fraternal  intercourse  that  we  have  enjoyed  together,  and  we 
magnify  the  grace  of  Christ  our  Saviour,  which  enabled  him  in  life  to  exem- 


170  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL    CAMP-MEETING. 

plify  so  clearly  the  excellence  of  entire  holiness,  and  to  labor  so  zealously  for 
its  promotion. 

Resolved  3d.  That  we  especially  rejoice  on  account  of  his  final  triumph, 
and  abundant  entrance  into  the  everlasting  kingdom  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ; 
and  we  shall  ever  cherish  and  hold  in  remembrance,  as  a  precious  legacy,  his 
last  message  to  us,  declaring  that  he  was  "  Clinging  to  the  Cross,"  in  death  as 
in  life. 

Resolved  4th.  That  we  tender  to  his  surviving  companion  and  the  other 
members  of  his  family,  our  sincere  condolence  in  this  deep  affliction,  praying 
that  the  God  of  all  comfort  may  abundantly  sustain  them,  and  sanctify  the  dis- 
pensation to  their  present  and  eternal  well-being. 

Resolved  5th.  That  a  copy  of  these  resolution  be  furnished  to  the  family 
of  our  deceased  brother,  and  published  in  the  Advocate  of  Holiness  and  our 
Church  papers. 


TUESDAY  MORNING. 
SERMON  BY  REV.  LEWIS  R.  DUNN,  OF  ELIZABETH,  N.J. 

ENTIRE   CONSECRATION. 

"  IFAo,  tlien^  is  loilling  to  consecrate  his  service  this  day  unto  the  Lord?" — 
1  Chron.  29  :  5. 

The  occasion  on  which  the  language  of  the  test  was  uttered  was  one  of  the 
grandest  and  sublimest  in  the  history  of  the  Jewish  nation.  At  the  close  of 
a  long,  troubled,  yet  prosperous  reign,  in  which  the  borders  of  Israel  had 
been  greatly  enlarged,  and  the  wealth  of  his  kingdom  vastly  increased,  David, 
the  royal  psalmist,  had  convoked  a  grand  assembly  at  Jerusalem.  It  is 
described  in  chapter  28,  verse  1.  This  council  was  not  assembled  for  war- 
like purposes,  nor  for  territorial  enlargement  or  aggrandizement,  but  it  was 
to  provide  for  the  erection  of  the  most  costly  and  magnificent  temple  ever 
erected  in  this  world,  the  plan  of  which  the  Spirit  of  God  had  given  to  David, 
the  consummation  of  which  was  to  be  effected  by  his  son  Solomon.  When 
all  were  assembled,  the  king  rose  to  his  feet  and  addressed  them  in  earnest 
words.  He  told  them  how  he  had  longed  to  build  this  house  for  God,  how 
the  Lord  had  refused  him  permission  to  do  this  because  he  was  a  man  of 
war  and  of  blood  ;  how  this  work,  by  Divine  appointment,  had  been  entrusted 
to  Solomon,  and  of  the  immense  preparation  which  he  had  made  toward  it. 
He  then  gave  a  solemn  charge  to  his  son,  and  also  a  pattern  of  the  whole 
building.  Then  follows  an  enumeration  of  the  gold  and  the  silver,  and 
precious  stones,  and  iron,  and  wood,  which  he  had  prepared.  After  all 
this  he  calls  upon  the  people  for  their  contributions.  The  amount  con- 
tributed on  this  day,  according  to  the  calculation  of  some  authors,  was  the 


A    MODERN   PENTECOST.  171 

enormous  sum  of  SGOO,000,000,  lowest,  or  $5,146,887,480,  the  highest. 
The  offerings  of  the  people  were  made  with  the  greatest  cheerfulness,  inso- 
much that  the  heart  of  the  aged  king  was  overwhelmed  with  delight  and 
joy,  and  he  offered  publicly  both  prayers  and  thanksgivings.  And  at  his 
bidding  the  whole  congregation  arose  and  blessed  the  Lord  God  of  Israel, 
and  worshiped. 

Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  building  the  most  magnificent  temple  which  this 
universe  ever  beheld.  The  richness  of  the  materials  of  which  it  is  being 
constructed,  the  immense,  the  infinite  cost  of  this  building  of  God,  the 
grandeur  and  magnificence  of  the  design,  will  occasion,  at  its  completion,  an 
outburst  of  praise  from  angel  and  archangel,  seraphim  and  cherubim,  and  all 
the  intelligences  which  God  has  made.  Of  this  temple,  that  which  Solomon 
built  is  only  a  faint  and  feeble  type,  while  the  gold  and  silver  and  precious 
stones  sink  into  insignificance  before  its  richer  value  and  its  greater  glory. 
The  foundations  of  this  building  are  "  the  apostles  and  prophets,  Jesus 
Christ  himself 'being  the  chief  corner-stone;"  and  the  materials  are  "living 
stones," — immortal  spirits,  each  one  of  which  is  of  more  value  than  all  the 
gold  and  silver  in  the  universe, — purchased  and  prepared  for  this  habitation 
of  God  by  the  infinite  preciousness  of  the  blood  of  Christ,  and  by  the  infinite 
wisdom  and  power  of  the  Eternal  Spirit.  Here,  then,  assembled  before  God 
in  this  grand  convocation,  I  come  to  ask  you,  "  Who,  then,  is  willing  to  con- 
secrate his  service  this  day  uuto  the  Lord  ?" 

1.  The  burden  of  my  mtjssage  this  day  is  consecration,  what  it  implies  and 
embraces,  and  tvJij/  and  when  it  should  he  made.  The  original  meaning  of 
the  word  is  "  to  fill ;"  and  the  literal  rendering  of  the  text,  as  the  margin 
shows,  is — "Who  is  willing  to  fill  his  hand  this  day?"  etc., — i.  e.  to  fill  his 
hand  with  offerings  to  Jehovah. 

When  the  priests  under  the  former  dispensation  were  consecrated,  their 
hands  were  said  to  be  filled  with  their  office,  their  work  and  their  ofierings. 
The  word  is  also  used  for  the  devotement  of  anything  to  God's  worship  and 
service.  In  this  sense  all  the  firstborn  in  Israel,  whether  of  man  or  beast, 
were  to  be  devoted  to  the  Lord.  The  tribe  of  Levi  was  taken  in  lieu  of  the 
first-born  of  Israel,  and,  in  a  special  manner,  devoted  to  the  Lord.  So  the 
Nazarites  of  old  devoted  themselves  to  the  Lord  for  a  limited  period,  and 
fields,  possessions  and  persons,  in  like  manner,  were  set  apart  as  belonging 
v/holly  unto  the  Lord.  Under  the  present  dispensation,  every  believer  is  set 
apart  for  God ;  is,  or  should  be,  devoted  wholly  to  his  service.  This  implies 
that  God  has  a  7-ight  to  demand  this  consecration,  and  that  we  have  the 
jwicer  to  make  it.  These  two  things  must  ever  be  borne  in  mind.  If  there 
is  any  doubt  about  either  of  them,  then  the  work  will  either  be  greatly 
delayed,  or  never  accomplished.  That  God  has  the  right  to  demand  it,  no 
one  can  reasonably  doubt.  But  many  doubt  that  we  can  comply  with  the 
demand.  Of  course,  I  mean  that  we  have  the  power,  through  the  redemp- 
tional  work  of  Christ,  which  has  procured  the  gracious  agency  of  the  Divine 
Spirit.  No  one  is  required  to  act,  or  expected  to  act,  in  this  transaction 
without  grace.  Thus  aided,  I  say,  we  can  all  comply  with  this  command. 
To  argue  otherwise,  would  be  to  argue  injustice  on  the  part  of  God,  for 
making  a  demand  of  us  which  we  are  by  no  means  able  to  perform.  There 
is  not  one  now  before  me,  there  is  not  one  in  all  this  wide  world,  but  who 
can^ifhe  ivill,  "consecrate  his  service  this  day  unto  the  Lord." 


172  SIXTEENTH   NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

2.  This  command  covers  the  whole  heing  of  man,  witli  all  its  actualities^ 
conditions,  relations  and  possibilities.  But,  primarily,  it  requires  the  sur- 
render of  the  heart,  or  the  moral  powers.  It  is  these  -which  regulate  and 
control  the  whole  being.  Hence,  God's  first  requirement  is,  "  Thou  shalt 
love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart.'"  "My  son,  give  me  thi/  heart." 
Where  the  heart  goes,  there  goes  man's  whole  being.  The  moral  powers 
include  the  toill,  the  affections  and  the  conscience.  There  is  no  obstacle  in 
the  way  of  man's  salvation  so  great  as  that  of  an  unsubdued  and  unsurren- 
dered will.  The  whole  stress  of  God's  requirement  is  made  to  bear  against 
this  power.  "  Whoever  icill,  let  him  take  the  water  of  life  freely."  And, 
"  Ye  ivill  not  come  to  me  that  ye  might  have  life."  In  the  one  instance  it 
is  the  great  power  which  leads  man  into  salvation,  holiness  and  heaven ;  it 
bathes  his  parched  lips,  and  slakes  his  feverish  thirst  with  the  waters  of  life; 
it  plunges  him  into  the  purple  flood,  it  encircles  his  brow  with  a  diadem  of 
glory;  in  the  other,  it  raises  a  barrier,  heaven  high  and  hell  deep,  between 
him  and*  the  fountain  of  life,  the  cross  of  redemption  and  the  gates  of  pearl, 
and  determines  his  eternal  banishment  from  God  and  from  heaven.  Won- 
derful is  the  power  of  the  human  will !  In  all  his  dealings  with  us,  God 
recognizes  this  wonderful  power  which  he  has  given  us.  Now,  God  requires 
the  surrender,  the  consecration,  first  of  all,  of  our  will.  He  nowhere  asks 
that  this  power  shall  be  absorbed,  destroyed  or  lost,  any  more  than  he  asks 
that  our  memory,  reason  or  imagination  shall  undergo  such  a  change.  In  fact, 
our  icills  can  never  he  lost.  If  we  are  saved  in  heaven,  we  shall  have  a  will; 
if  we  are  lost  in  hell,  we  shall  have  a  will.  What  the  Lord  asks  is  that  our 
wills  should  be  surrendered,  or  subjected  to  his  will;  that  they  should  act  in 
harmony  with  his  will;  that  there  should  be  no  controversy,  no  antagonism, 
no  war,  between  his  will  and  ours;  that,  like  parallel  lines,  which  run  on 
forever  without  contact  or  conflict,  so  our  will  should  run  on  to  eternity  in 
the  same  direction  with  God's.  Is  not  this  the  import  of  the  petition  ? 
"Thy  will  be  done  on  earth,  as  it  is  in  heaven !"  Now  there  is  not  an  angel 
nor  an  archangel  in  heaven  without  a  will ;  and  yet,  that  will  is  forever  in 
harmony  with  God's.  If  it  were  not,  there  would  be  again  "war  in  heaven," 
instead  of  the  eternal  calm  which  pervaaes  the  city  of  God. 

The  will  is  the  keystone  to  the  arch  of  man's  being.  It  is  the  foundation 
stone  of  his  whole  mental  and  moral  superstructure.  If  this  is  given  up,  or 
consecrated,  all  else  will  be  laid  upon  the  altar  with  it.  The  consecration 
covers,  also,  our  affectional  p)oivers.  Every  human  heart  possesses  these 
powers.  But,  alas !  they  are  perverted,  abused,  degraded.  Like  the  vine, 
designed  to  cling  to  the  trellis-work  or  climb  the  oak,  and  thus  mount  hea- 
venward;  but  which,  torn  from  its  supports,  twines  its  tendrils  around 
clumps  of  grass,  or  weeds,  or  earth — so  the  afiections,  having  swung  loose 
from  God,  cling  to  the  low,  vile,  groveling  objects  of  time  and  sense.  Now 
the  Lord  asks  and  demands  that  these  powers  should  be  centred  in  and 
should  cling  to  him.     And,  certainly,  he  is  worthy  of  all  our  love. 

The  requirement  also  embraces  our  conscience.  This  wonderful  power, 
this  voice  of  God  in  the  human  soul,  often  abused,  benumbed,  blinded  and 
seared,  but  which,  ever  and  anon,  asserts  its  supremacy  and  thunders  down 
through  every  avenue  of  the  soul — this  power  which  is  perverted  by  sin, 
prostituted  to  the  service  of  Satan,  God  asks  should  be  placed  in  his  hands. 
He  asks  it,  that  he  may  remove  from  it  the  deep  incrustations  of  guilt  which 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  173 

cover  it ;  that  he  may  heal  the  deep  scars  which  sin  has  burned  into  it,  and 
that  he  may  make  it  enlightened,  quick  as  the  apple  of  the  eye,  and  soft  and 
tender  as  the  flesh  of  a  smiling  infant. 

Now,  then,  we  say  that  the  surrender  of  these  moral  powers  involves  the 
surrender  of  the  whole  being;  just  as  the  surrender  of  Lee  at  Appomattox 
involved  a  surrender  of  the  whole  of  the  forces  of  the  rebellion  in  the  field 
and  on  the  flood. 

Here  is  a  point  where  many  persons  are  honestly  mistaken.  The  question 
is  pressed  upon  them  of  their  duty  to  be  wholly  the  Lord's.  One  begins  to 
think  of  his  tobacco,  another  of  his  cup,  another  of  her  dress,  another  sliil 
of  her  worldly  amusements.  And  each  asks,  "  How  can  I  give  this  up?" 
And  thus  the  mind  is  perplexed  with  what  is,  after  all,  nothing ;  compara- 
tively but  a  trifle.  To  all  such  persons,  we  would  say,  first  of  all,  give  your 
hearts  to  the  Lord;  surrender  your  will,  affections,  and  conscience  to  him, 
and  all  these  things  will  come  along  in  the  train.  Your  great  difficulty  is 
not  with  these  minor  things,  it  is  with  your  will.  If  you  say,  I  xvill  be  wholly 
the  Lord's,  "  I  will  consecrate  myself  to  him  wholly  this  day,"  all  other  diffi- 
culties will  vanish  as  clouds  when  the  sun  has  risen  in  his  strength.  I  know 
there  are  many  who  think  and  teach  differently.  And  their  great  stress  is 
laid  against  this  and  that  habit,  against  this  or  that  article  of  dress.  This  is 
like  beginning  to  cut  down  the  tree  at  the  outmost  twigs.  God  does  not  cut 
down  the  tree  of  man's  heart  in  that  way.  He  strikes  right  at  the  very  root, 
and  severs  even  the  tap-root  with  the  power  of  his  arm.  There  are  others 
who  are  always  laboring  with  the  understanding  and  the  powers  of  ratiocina- 
tion, as  if  they  were  the  grand  barriers  in  the  way  of  man's  salvation. 

But,  as  a  rule,  man's  understanding  is  sufficiently  enlightened,  his  judg- 
ment convinced.  If  the  fool  says,  "There  is  no  God,"  he  says  it  "in  his 
heart."  If  men  decry  the  Divine  Christ  and  his  atoning  sacrifice,  and  the 
transforming  and  sanctifying  Spirit,  it  is  because  their  "  foolish  hearts  are 
darkened."  So  if  men  oppose  holiness,  it  is  because  of  the  antagonizing 
elements  of  sin  in  the  soul.  The  apostle  declared  that  "  by  manifestation 
of  the  truth,  he  and  his  co-laborers  commended  themselves  to  every  man's 
conscience  in  the  sight  of  God."  0,  then,  if  my  will  is  surrendered,  conse- 
crated to  God,  I  see  the  affections  of  my  heart  lifting  up  themselves  God- 
ward  and  heavenward.  I  see  conscience  purified  and  enlightened,  uttering 
God's  voice  and  fleeing  from  the  least  approach  of  sin.  I  see  memory  bring- 
ing its  stores  and  laying  them  on  God's  altar.  I  see  reason,  and  judgment, 
and  understanding,  and  imagination,  all  meekly  bowing  down,  receiving  the 
divine  impression.  I  see  the  body,  with  its  arms  and  limbs,  with  its  tongue 
and  voice,  with  its  eyes  and  countenance,  with  all  its  parts  and  powers  obe- 
dient to  the  dictates  of  God's  king  and  priest,  who,  robed  in  vestments  of 
righteousness  divine,  holds  sway  over  all  his  passions  and  his  powers.  I  see 
the  family,  the  loving,  gentle  wife,  the  children, — even  the  darling  babe,  so 
much  of  an  idol, — all,  all  are  here  upon  the  altar.  And  I  see,  too,  business, 
wealth,  honors,  reputation,  social  position  laid  at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  each 
ready  to  say,  "  Here  are  we,  Lord,  to  help  on  thy  cause,  and  advance  the 
interests  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom." 

3.  The  command  of  God,  requiring  this  consecration,  is  absolute;  the  per- 
formance of  it  by  man  is  voluntary. 

The  couimand  admits  of  no  compromise.     God  never  compromises  with 


174  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL    CAMP-MEETING. 

his  creatures.  In  fact,  Jesus  Christ  is  the  most  uncompromising  sovereign 
in  the  world.  And  yet,  strange  to  say,  some  persons  labor  all  their  lifetime 
to  compromise  with  God.  They  will  do  this  if  they  can  only  be  released 
from  doing  that.  They  will  perform  this  duty,  if  they  can  only  be  excused 
from  the  performance  of  that.  Some  will  give  their  money,  if  they  can  be 
released  from  giving  their  time;  and  some  will  give  their  time  if  they  can 
only  retain  their  money.  Some  will  ohserve  the  outward  form  of  religion, 
with  tithe,  mint,  and  anise,  and  cummin,  if  they  can  neglect  the  weightier 
matters  of  the  law.  But  in  the  midet  of  all,  and  above  all  the  clamor  for  com- 
promise, Sinai's  blazing  mount  still  thunders  out,  and  its  voice  is  answered 
back  from  the  blood-crimsoned  brow  of  Calvary,  "Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord 
thy  God." 

But  man  has  the  fearful  power  of  obedience  or  of  disobedience.  He  can, 
aided  by  divine  grace,  obey  God's  voice,  or  he  can  turn  a  deaf  ear  unto  it, 
and  refuse  obedience  to  his  requirements.  And  if  this  work  is  done  at  all,  it 
must  be  done  willingly.  I  know  there  are  some  who  misquote  God's  word, 
and  say,  "Thy  people  shall  be  inade  willing  in  the  day  of  thy  power."  But 
there  is  no  such  Scripture  as  this.  In  fact  the  utterance  is  as  contrary  to 
philosophy  as  it  is  to  revelation.  The  very  same  verb  is  employed  by  the 
Psalmist  in  that  Psalm  as  is  used  here  in  saying,  "The  people  offered  willing- 
ly." And  the  literal  meaning  of  that  passage  is,  "Thy  people  shall  he  free- 
will offeringn  in  the  day  of  thy  power."  It  is  in  view  of  this  that  they  shall 
shine  forth  resplendently  and  in  countless  numbers,  as  the  dew-drops  of  the 
morning,  in  the  beauty  of  lioline.«s. 

It  was  the  beauty  of  the  offerings  brought  upon  this  occasion,  and  what  so 
affected  the  heart  of  king  David,  that  the  people  presented  them  so  cheerfully 
and  so  freely.  God  will  never  force  the  citadel  of  our  hearts.  lie  will  never 
break  open  the  door  which  leads  into  them.  If  we  are  ever  consecrated  to 
God,  we  must  do  it  voluntarily  and  cheerfully.  It  is  true  that  the  results 
will  be  widely,  infinitely  different,  according  to  the  choice  which  we  make 
If  we  are  "willing  and  obedient  we  shall  eat  the  fruit  of  the  land."  But  if 
we  disobey,  "tribulation  and  wrath,  indignation  and  anguish,  shall  be  upon 
every  soul."  While  this  is  a  matter  of  voluntariness,  it  is  not  a  matter  of  in- 
difference. I  know  there  arc  many  different  degrees  of  this  consecration, 
according  to  the  light,  the  conviction,  the  faith  of  the  true  Christian.  All 
who  are  in  a  sense  true  Christians,  do  not  so  clearly  as  some  comprehend  their 
privilege  or  their  duty;  their  conscience  is  not  so  enlightened  as  others,  and 
they  consequently  are  held  back  from  doing  what  they  would  otherwise  cheer- 
fully do,  if  the  way  of  duty  were  made  known  to  them.  But,  I  will  s-iy  this, 
that  no  person  can  be  a  true  Christian  who  is  not  longing  to  be  wholly  the 
Lord's,  and  is  not  willing  to  give  up  all  to  him.  And  yet,  what  multitudes 
profess  to  be  Christians  who  know  nothing  of  justifying  or  saving  grace ! 

4.  Our  service  is  to  be  consecrated  to  God. 

This  is  the  very  idea  here.  What  did  David  mean  when  he  asked  this  ques- 
tion? Why,  certainly,  that  his  nobles,  and  princes,  and  captains  should  con)e 
forward  and  lay  their  offerings  for  God's  temple  at  his  feet.  And  this  God  re- 
quires of  every  one  of  us.  We  are  to  offer,  or  fill  our  hand  willingly,  freely, 
cheerfully,  and  without  constraint,  with  offerings  to  the  Lord;  recognizing  that 
all  we  have  of  right  belongs  to  him  (verses  11-14),  and  that  all  should  be  freely 
employed  for  his  honor  and  glory.     Time,  talents,  money,  proiwrty,  position — 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  175 

everything,  are  thus  to  be  clieerfiilly  surrendered  and  constantly  employed.  Self 
is  to  go  down,  no  matter  in  what  form  it  has  exhibited  itself — self-pride,  self- 
seeking,  self-ease,  self-indulgence,  false  ambition,  envy,  jealousy — and  God  alone 
is  to  be  honored,  worshiped  and  adored.  Everything  we  can  give  for  him,  we 
are  to  give ;  everything  we  can  do  for  him,  we  are  to  do  ;  everything  we  can  say 
for  him,  we  are  to  say.  We  are  to  own  his  right  to  every  service  we  can  pay. 
And  this  to  a  consecrated  soul  will  be  no  hardship,  but  a  delight — a  '"  supreme 
delight.''  It  will  be  done  without  murmuring,  -without  grudging,  or  fault-find- 
ing— with  full  consent,  with  heartiness,  and  with  songs  of  joy. 

5.  When  this  act  of  consecration  is  performed^  it  should  be  for  all  time 
and  for  all  eternity.  The  act  which  it  takes  us  so  few  moments  to  perform 
should  bind  us  to  the  throne  of  God  foi'ever.  Just  as  in  the  marriage  bond 
the  wife  gives  up  herself  to  her  husband,  and  the  husband  endows  her  with  all 
his  wealth  of  aft'ection,  as  well  as  his  worldly  goods,  so  in  "  this  great  transac- 
tion" man  gives  himself  up  wholly  to  the  Lord,  and  the  Lord  gives  himself  to 
man  ;  and  just  as  ever  after  the  mutual  vows  of  the  husband  and  wife  are  taken 
to  love,  to  honor  and  to  cherish — to  forsake  all  others  and  cling  to  each  other 
so  long  as  life  shall  last,  or  until  death  them  do  part.  Wherever  they  go  they 
are  to  remember  their  vows,  and  to  act  accordingly.  So  the  Christian  is  to 
remember  his  vows,  and  always  and  everywhere  to  feel,  "I  am  my  Lord's,  and 
He  is  mine."  Further  still:  if  one  or  the  other  is  guilty  of  a  breach  of  the 
marital  vows,  the  crime  of  adultery  lies  at  their  door.  So  God  will  charge  his 
people  now,  as  he  did  of  old,  with  fornication  and  abandonment,  if  they  break 
their  vows  to  him  and  go  after  the  vain  things  of  this  world.  This  covenant 
with  the  Lord  is  to  be  an  everlasting  covenant.  To  withdraw,  or  take  back  any 
part  of  what  we  have  voluntarily  surrendered  to  God,  is  robbery — is  sacrilege. 
What  we  give  to  God  is  no  longer  our  own.  Lideed,  it  never  was  really  our 
own  (verses  12-14.)  But  God  has  required  our  acknowledgment  of  his  right 
to  us,  and  the  relinquishment  of  our  usurped  right  wholly  to  himself,  as  our 
absolute  proprietor  and  Lord.  When  this  is  done,  and  the  seal  of  God  is  placed 
upon  us  by  the  cleansing  blood  and  the  fire  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  we  are  never, 
never.,  NEVER  to  take  back  what  we  have  given  up.  Such  is  the  consecration 
which  God  requii'es.     Let  us  see : 

II.    Why  we  sliould  make  it.     We  are  moved  to  this — 

1.  By  the  highest  considerations  of  duty.,  of  interest  and  of  gratitude.  The 
ai-gument  here  is  so  plain,  so  clear,  so  frequently  presented,  that  I  need  scarcely 
dwell  upon  it  for  any  time.  Our  creation  by  the  power  of  God  gives  to  him 
of  ri^ht  the  absolute  j^foj^rietorshp  of  all  our  p)Owers.  It  is  universally 
acknowledged  that  whatever  is  created,  so  to  speak,  by  man's  skill,  or  genius, 
or  power,  belongs  to  him  of  right.  The  name  of  the  sculptor,  painter,  inventor, 
or  the  architect,  or  of  the  musical  composer,  is  enstamped,  or  engraved,  or 
printed  upon  all  such  productions.  For  instance,  every  one  knows  the  "  Greek 
Slave"  is  the  work  of  Powers ;  the  "  Heart  of  the  Andes,"  of  Church ;  "  St. 
Peters,"  of  Michael  Angelo  ;  "  The  Messiah,"  of  Handel.  No  one  else  can  lay 
claim  to  these  works.  So'the  name  of  God  should  be  upon  our  forehead,  upon 
the  tablet  of  our  hearts,  and  upon  all  the  powers  of  our  mind.  ("  His  name  in 
their  foreheads,"  etc.)  Any  attempt  to  erase  or  obscure  that  name  is  a  viola- 
tion of  the  most  sacred  obligation,  and  is  sure  to  be  visited  with  the  Divine 
displeasure.  Oh,  how  sin,  and  Satan,  and  the  world,  and  self,  have  labored 
to  blot  out  the  name  of  God  from  man's  beinsr  and  substitute  their  own  names  ! 


176  SIXTEENTH   NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

But  let  us  see  well  to  it  that  the  name  of  God  is  restored  to  his  owa  property, 
and  that  it  be  forever  outshining  from  all  the  powers  of  our  being. 

But  more  than  all  this — more  than  the  fact  that "  in  His  hands  is  our  breath 
and  all  our  ways ;"  that  "  in  Him  wc  live  and  m)ve  and  have  our  being ;"  that 
every  crumb  of  food  which  we  eat,  and  every  drop  of  water  we  drink,  and  every 
shred  of  clothing  we  wear,  and  our  comfortable  homes,  are  all  from  Him — is 
the  higher,  the  more  wonderful  fact,  that  we  are  redeemed  ! 

The  two  grand  arguments  presented  by  the  apostle  for  our  consecration  are, 
first,  "I'he  mercies  of  God;"  and,  second,  ''Ye  are  not  j^our  own — ye  are 
bought  with  a  price."  Sin  had  doomed  us  to  eternal  slavery — to  eternal  damna- 
tion. But  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  has  redeemed  us ;  not,  indeed,  "  with  cor- 
ruptible things,"  etc.,  but  with  his  own  "  precious  blood "  It  required  a 
sacrifice  of  infinite  value  to  redeem  immortal  spirits,  and  that  sacrifice  the  Son 
of  God  freely  made.  Here,  then,  is  a  double  claim  which  God  had  to  us ;  an 
infinite  claim,  infinitely  surpassing  all  other  claims  and  considerations.  Oh, 
then,  not  only  our  duty^  but  gratitude,  calls  upon  us  to  make  this  consecration. 

2.  By  making  this,  and  having  God  accept  it,  we  can  only  attain  to  the 
highest  condition  and  privilege  of  our  being.  As  the  claims  of  God,  found- 
ed upon  our  creation  and  redemption  by  his  power,  his  wisdom,  and  his 
love,  cover  our  whole  being,  so  by  complying  with  those  claims  we  can  only 
secure  our  highest  well-being.  This  is  true  of  our  phi/sical  nature.  We  all 
know  that  sin  has  blurred,  defiled,  defaced,  brutalized  and  destroyed  the 
body ;  how,  that  by  impurity,  intoxication,  gormandizing,  and  abuse  in  mul- 
titudes of  instances,  this  beautiful  framework  has  been  marred.  Anger,  mal- 
ice, hate,  revenge,  remorse,  envy,  covetousness  have  left  their  stamp  upon 
the  countenance.  The  eye  has  become  blood-shot,  the  limbs  prematurely 
trembling,  the  blood  poisoned,  the  nerves  shattered,  and  the  delicate  tissues 
of  the  brain  inflamed  and  deranged.  How  that  it  has  been  prostituted  for 
the  vilest  and  most  unworthy  purposes,  deformed  by  the  hand  of  fashion,  or 
dressed  like  a  doll,  or  disguised  by  a  horrid  mask.  But  the  consecrated  body 
is  separated  from  all  vile  uses  and  purposes.  It  "is  the  temple  of  the  Holy 
Ghost."  And,  although  often  frail,  and  feeble,  and  homely  in  its  features, 
yet,  the  indwelling  Spirit  mikes  the  eye  to  glint  with  his  light,  and  the 
countenance  to  glow  with  his  radiance,  and  the  whole  features  to  be  over- 
spread with  his  own  loveliness  and  beauty.  I  do  not  mean  to  say.  of  course, 
that  the  body  of  the  truly  consecrated  child  of  God  will  attain  to  the  strength 
of  the  prize- fighter,  or  the  swiftness  of  the  pedestrian,  or  the  so-called  grace 
of  the  danseuse. 

Nor  do  I  mean  to  say  that  the  body,  which  before  its  consecration  to  God 
has  been  wasted  by  disease,  or  poisoned  by  alcohol,  or  exhausted  by  debauch- 
ery, or  brutalized  by  lu&ts,  will  be  entirely  delivered  from  the  legitimate,  and, 
in  a  sense,  necessary  results  of  its  previous  conditions.  No.  None  of  these 
things.  But  what  I  mean  to  say  is  this;  that  that  consecrated  body  will  no 
more,  forever,  be  brutalized  by  lusts,  or  swollen  and  disfigured  by  intoxica- 
tion, or  its  throat  be  a  chimney  for  the  smoke,  and  its  mouth  a  filthy  mass  of 
tobacco,  or  worn  out  by  gormandizing,  or  shattered  by  dissipation,  or  frittered 
away  by  carking  cares  and  overburdening  anxieties.  And,  further,  that  if 
this  consecration  occur  in  early  life,  it  will  tend  to  produce  those  habits  of 
cleanlincs-s,  temperance,  chastity,  and  those  habits  of  economy  and  thrift 
which  will  supply  suitable  clothing  and   food,  and  proper  hours  of  sleep,  so 


A    MODERN   PENTECOST.  177 

that  long  life  will  be  generally  the  only  legitimate  result.  This,  indeed,  is 
promised,  "  What  man  is  he  that  loveth  life,  and  desireth  many  days  that  he 
may  see  good  ?"  "  Keep  thy  tongue,"  etc.  "  With  long  life  will  I  satisfy 
him,  and  show  him  my  salvation."  "  Length  of  days  is  in  her  (wisdom's) 
right  hand."     "  That  thy  days  may  be  long,"  etc. 

The  body  which  belongs  wholly  to  God  will  attain  to  its  highest  condition 
and  best  answer  the  end  for  which  it  was  created.  So,  also  with  our  menfal 
powers.  Grace  will  enlarge  and  expand  them,  and  all  will  be  employed  for 
the  honor  and  glory  of  God.  The  consecrated  man  may  not  have  the  most 
brilliant  natural  powers,  or  the  most  resplendent  genius.  It  is  not  the  mere 
accumulation  of  vast  stores  of  learning,  or  the  splendid  corruscations  of  ge- 
nius, which  are  the  most  highly  prized  by  God.  No ;  "With  the  talents  of 
an  angel,  man  may  still  be  a  fool."  While  many  a  saint  with  humbler  powers, 
and  scanty  stores  of  "human  learning,  may  be  truly  wise  in  the  sight  of  God. 

He  has  the  highest  kind  of  knowledge — the  basis,  indeed,  of  all  other 
knowledge.  He  knows  God,  and  Jesus  Christ  whom  he  has  sent.  And,  as 
far  as  possible,  he  will  desire  to  know  everything  that  will  illustrate  his  char- 
acter, his  word,  and  his  works.  The  truly  consecrated  Christian  will  endeavor 
to  improve  his  mind  to  the  utmost  of  its  capability,  and  of  his  opportunity. 
Those  capabilities  may  not  be  great,  and  those  opportunities  may  be  few,  but 
he  will  employ  them  all  in  the  acquirement  of  knowledge.  His  time  will 
not  be  wasted  in  novel  reading,  or  in  poring  over  nonsensical  and  very  often 
impure  and  obscene  stories.  He  will  only  read  and  study  what  will  be  for 
the  glory  of  God.  He  is  the  Lord's,  not  only  for  time,  but  also  for  eter- 
nity. He  is  preparing  for  a  purer,  higher,  nobler  sphere  of  being.  And  he 
sees  before  him  a  whole  eternity  for  the  development  of  his  powers,  and  his 
growth  in  every  department  of  knowledge.  Then,  in  the  consecrated  mind 
and  heart,  the  Holy  Ghost  abides,  enlightening  and  clarifying  the  understand- 
ing, curbing,  controlling,  and  chastening  the  imagination,  counselling  and  di- 
recting the  judgment,  strengthening  the  memory  and  guiding  the  man  of 
God  into  all  truth.  But  if  he  never  knows  anything  about  theology,  books 
of  science  and  literature,  he  knows  by  experimental  tests  the  truths  of  his 
Bible,  and  the  preeiousness  and  power  of  his  Saviour. 

This  is  neither  an  argument  nor  a  plea  for  ignorance ;  but  to  show  how  these 
devoted  powers  may  attain  to  their  highest  earthly  condition.  Cowperthus  con- 
trasts the  conditition  of  a  poor  widow  and  Voltaire : — 

"  She  knew,  and  knew  no  more,  her  Bible  true ; 
A  truth  the  brilliant  Frenchman  never  knew  ; 
And  in  that  charter  read,  with  sparkling  eyes, 
Her  title  to  a  treasure  iu  the  skies. 
0  happy  peasant !  unhappy  bard ! 
His  the  mere  tinsel,  her's  the  rich  reward  ; 
He  praised  for  ages  yet  to  come, 
She  never  heard  of  half  a  mile  from  home. 
He  lost  in  errors  his  vain  heart  prefers. 
She  saved  in  the  simplicity  of  hers." 

But,  above  all,  our  moral  powers  will  reach  their  highest  condition.  The  will 
in  harmony  with  God's — the  affections  supremely  and  forever  centred  in  him — 
the  conscience  ever  answering  to  his  voice,  quick,  and  pure,  and  calm,  and 
peaceful.  So  shall  the  will  of  God  be  done  by  him  upon  the  earth,-  as  it  is  in 
heaven. 

12 


178  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

3.  Only  by  so  doing  can  we  reach  the  highest  state  of  blessedness  of  ivhick 
our  being  is  capable.  The  sinful,  worldly,  ambitious  and  sensual  man,  each  has 
his  pleasure.  It  is  not  tme  to  say  that  the  woi*ld  has  no  joy  and  sin  has  no 
pleasure.  There  are,  to  unrenewed,  men  pleasures  of  sense,  of  taste,  and  smell, 
and  sound,  and  sight,  and  sensual  gratification.  There  are  also  pleasures  of 
mind,  of  the  memory,  imagination,  understanding,  and  the  powers  of  ratiocina- 
tion, of  analysis  and  synthesis.  There  are  also  pleasures  of  the  heart,  the  heai'th, 
and  the  home.  Indeed,  God  often  permits  wicked  men  to  have  many  pleasures 
and  comforts  of  which  his  people  are  deprived.  But,  after  all  this  is  admitted, 
the  voice  of  God  is  confirmed  by  the  voice  of  universal  history  and  experience, 
that  "the  world  can  never  give  the  bliss  for  which  we  sigh."  All  the  pleasures 
which  man  can  derive  from  wealth,  honor  and  sensual  gratification,  are  as  noth- 
ing in  comparison  with  the  bliss  which  the  humble  saint  of  God  enjoys.  One 
hour  of  communion  with  God,  of  the  conscious  sense  of  sonship  and  heirship,  of 
the  light  of  God's  countenance  and  the  glory  of  his  smile,  of  the  unspeakable 
peace  and  the  unutterable  joy  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  full  of  exultant  hope  of  the 
eternal  life,  infinitely  outweighs  all  the  transitoi-y  pleasure  which  earth  can  give. 
Such  bliss  is  the  bliss  of  the  saints ;  aye  more,  it  is  the  bliss  of  the  angels.  Aye 
more,  it  is  the  bliss,  the  joy  of  God!  0,  if  I  could  call  down  an  angel  from  the 
throne  now !  but  I  have  no  need  to  do  this,  for  they  are  here ;  but,  if  I  could 
make  one  to  appear  before  you,  and  speak  to  you,  I  would  ask  him,  "  What  makes 
you  so  happy  ?  Why  is  eternal  sunshine  vipon  your  face?  Why  is  heaven  ever 
beaming  from  your  eye  ?  Why  is  your  overflowing  heart  ever  bursting  forth  in 
songs  of  joy?"  Would  he  not  answer,  substantially,  "Because  I  am  wholly  the 
Lord's,  and  all  my  powers  are  ceaselessly  employed  in  his  service."  So  will  it 
be  with  us  if  we  are  wholly  given  up  to  God. 

4.  Only  by  so  doing  can  we  attain  to  the  greatest  degree  of  usefidness.  Our 
real  usefulness  will  be  proportioned  to  the  degree  of  our  devotion  to  Christ.  I 
know  that  I  shall  be  met  here,  right  on  the  threshold  of  this  statement,  by  the 
counter-assertion  that  many  ministers  of  evidently  little  piety  have  been  greatly 
successful  as  evangelists,  and  have  been  instrumental  in  the  conversion  of  more 
persons  than  some  who  are  known  to  possess  greater  piety.  There  have  been 
instances  of  this  kind,  I  know,  which  have  staggered  the  faith  of  many  a  truly 
devoted  minister.  But,  after  all,  has  not  this  so-called  usefulness  been  more 
apparent  than  real?  Have  not  the  results  been  ephemeral?  Or,  if  perma- 
nent, have  not  the  real  agents  been  kept  out  of  sight,  while  the  visible  agent 
has  received  the  glory  and  the  applause?  But,  on  the  other  hand,  is  it  not 
true — true  as  the  word  of  God  can  make  it — that  his  chosen  ones,  as  they  go 
forth,  shall  "bear  fruit,  and  that  their  fruit  shall  remain?"  Have  not  all 
the  great,  mighty,  moral  movements  of  the  world  been  commenced  and  carried 
forward  mostly  by  consecrated  men — men  deeply  devoted  to  Christ?  True 
Christians  in  every  degree  of  their  experience  are  useful,  from  the  merest  babe 
in  Christ  to  the  brightest  and  maturost  saint.  But  oh,  how  much  more  good 
we  might  do  as  ministers  and  as  laymen  and  women  of  the  Church  if  we  were 
wholly  the  Lord's  !  Here,  for  instance,  is  a  machine,  well-designed  and  really 
of  great  capacity  to  accomplish  a  given  result.  But  some  of  its  parts  are  out 
of  place — some  of  the  wheels  are  clogged — and  there  is  friction  between  the 
parts.  It  is  doing  something ;  but  if  it  were  in  complete  order,  how  much 
more  it  would  accomplish!  Here  is  a  fruit  tree,  well  shaped,  and  planted  in  a 
good  soil.     It  bears  some  fruit,  but  it  is  nothing  to  what  it  is  capable  to  bear. 


A    MODERN    PENTECOST.  179 

and  the  fruit  is  not  of  the  quality  which  it  might  bear.  It  is  untrimmed,  and 
useless  shoots  are  drawing  away  its  life.  Worms  are  at  the  root,  or  are  con- 
cealed in  the  bark.  Now,  let  the  tree  be  put  in  condition,  and  its  branches 
will  bend  under  the  burden  of  luscious  fruits.  Here  is  a  battery ;  it  may  be 
small — it  may  be  made,  in  a  lady's  thimble,  of  suflBcient  power,  it  is  said,  to 
send  a  single  message  across  the  Atlantic.  Well  done  for  the  little  battery ! 
But  let  it  be  enlarged,  and  day  and  night  it  will  be  flashing  messages  over 
continents,  islands  and  seas.  So  witlr  the  Christian.  He  is — he  must  be — 
useful  with  a  little  light,  a  little  grace,  a  little  power.  Nor  is  his  limited  expe- 
rience or  attainment  to  be  despised.  But  he  knows,  and  we  all  know,  that  if 
that  light  were  nearer  the  perfect  day,  if  that  grace  were  all-transforming  and 
sanctifying,  and  if  that  power  were  greatly  augmented,  how  greatly  his  useful- 
ness would  be  increased ! 

III. — When,  then,  should  this  consecration  he  made?  '■'■  Tliis  dayT 
1.  Because  every  moment  of  our  conscious  being  that  we  have  delayed  doing  it, 
or  re/used  to  do  it,  we  have  been  defrauding  God.  We  know  that  the  demand 
which  God  makes  of  us  is  right  and  reasonable.  '^He  justly  claiins."  If  this 
be  so,  then  the  question  admits  of  rfo  delay.  We  ought  not,  in  any  instance, 
to  hesitate  where  right  and  moral  honesty  are  concerned.  The  simple  question 
settled,  ''Is  it  right?"  then  everything  else  follows.  The  wonder  is  that  we 
have  delayed  doing  this  so  long.  And  yet,  with  most  professing  Christians, 
this  has  not  been  wholly  neglected.  Before  conversion  there  was  a  giving  up 
to  God — a  consecration  to  his  service ;  and  since  that  time  your  minds  have 
doubtless  been  frequently  drawn  to  consider  the  importance  of  a  more  complete 
and  perfect  surrender.  You  have  thought  about  it,  talked  and  prayed  about 
it,  sung  about  it — perhaps  have  even  made  a  formal  written  consecration  of 
yourself  to  God ;  but  still  you  have  felt  that,  after  all,  all  is  not  given  up.  Oh, 
then,  this  day  let  the  work  be  completed  !     Cry  out, 

"  Thy  ransomed  servant  I, 
Restore  to  thee  thine  own  ; 
And  from  this  moment  liye  or  die 
To  serve  my  God  alone." 

2.  The  earlier  this  consecration  is  made,  the  more  acceptable  will  it  be  to  God. 
True,  the  Lord  will  graciously  receive  the  middle-aged  and  the  aged,  but  he 
loves  to  receive  the  young.  0,  ye  young  men  and  women  I  it  is  this  early 
consecration  which  will  make  your  lives  beautiful  and  sublime.  It  will  not 
only  save  you  from  a  thousand  snares;  but  it  will  crown  you  with  a  thousand 
blessings.  Come,  while  the  dew  of  youth  is  upon  your  brow,  and  elasticity 
is  in  your  limbs,  and  the  life-blood  leaps  and  tingles  in  your  veins;  and  let 
this  great  work  be  done  to-day.  But  none  of  us  can  begin  earlier  than  now. 
Let  not  another  moment  pass,  but  now  and  here  lay  your  all  upon  God's 
altar,  and  he  will  accept  the  sacrifice. 

3.  We  should  make  this  consecration  to-day  because  a  whole  lifetime  is 
no7ie  too  much  to  devote  to  God.  Had  we  done  this  at  the  very  earliest  dawn 
of  our  responsible  being,  and  had  every  day,  hour  and  moment  been  faith- 
fully employed  in  his  service,  would  it  have  been  any  too  much  ?  And  if  we 
begin  now,  and  employ  all  our  powers  for  the  glory  of  God,  all  our  future 
days,  and  throughout  the  countless  cycles  of  eternity,  will  that  be  too  much  ? 
And  yet  many  years  passed  away  before  some  of  us  surrendered  our  all ! 
Yea,  how  many  are  there  now  before  me  who  have  not  yet  done  this  work! 


180  SIXTEENTH   NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

Hasten,  then,  with  your  gift  to  the  altar.  Everything  is  in  readiness  for  you. 
The  cleansing  blood,  the  sanctifying  Spirit,  the  immutable  promises  and  the 
attendant  angels,  are  ready  just  now  to  hold  you  as  a  sealed  and  sanctified 
follower  of  Jesus. 

4.  To  do  this  work  to-day  will  settle  a  question  which  has  kept  you  in  agi- 
tation and  trouble  for  years.  You  cannot  dismiss  it  from  your  mind.  It 
stares  you  in  the  face  wherever  you  look.  If  you  open  your  Bible  it  is 
pressed  upon  you  there.  If  you  go  to  pray,  the  Holy  G-host  brings  it  before 
you  there.  If  you  sing,  nearly  every  hymn  speaks  of  it.  If  you  regard  God 
your  Father,  you  see  his  claims  upon  you.  If  you  look  to  the  cross  of  Jesus, 
you  hear  him  say, "  All  this  I  have  done  for  thee ;  what  hast  thou  done  for 
me  ?"  Thus  has  it  been  for  years  gone  by.  You  have  resolved,  and  resolved, 
again  and  again,  that  you  would  do  it.  And  then  when  the  moment  has  come, 
you  have  hesitated,  squirmed,  halted,  delayed.  Now  let  the  question  be 
settled,  once  and  forever.  "  This  day  the  covenant  I  sign,"  etc.  If  this  is 
done  then  the  question  is  settled  forever.  It  will  be  easy  to  repeat  what  has 
once  been  thoroughly  done.  And  your  soul  will  exult  in  the  blessed  assur- 
ance, "My  beloved  is  mine,  and  I  am  his." 

Who,  then,  is  willing  to  consecrate  his  service  this  day  unto  the  Lord? 
How  many  of  this  vast  throng,  deeply  convinced  of  the  rightfulness,  the 
reasonableness  and  the  necessity  of  doing  this  work,  are  ready  to  do  it  now  ? 
Do  not  say,  "  I  am  not  prepared  to  do  it  now."  What !  are  you  not  prepared 
to  do  right  ?  Must  you  wait  longer  to  consider  whether  you  will  be  honest  ? 
I  press  the  claims  of  my  God  upon  you.  I  call  upon  you  for  a  decision. 
One  moment  now  of  halting,  hesitation,  or  refusal,  may  mar  your  whole 
Christian  character  and  blight  your  religious  life.  0,  that  there  may  be  mul- 
titudes, multitudes,  this  day  in  the  valley  of  decision  !  0,  you  ivill  do  it  I 
Yes,  we  will  give  up  all  to  thee,  0  Lord !  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost, 
witness  to  our  surrender,  and  seal  our  sacrifice.'  Now  apply  the  blood.  Now 
Holy  Ghost,  descend  ! 

The  sentences  we  trace  on  these  pages  give  but  a  faint  idea  of  the  fervor 
and  force  of  oral  address.  Brother  Dunn  labored  under  a  powerful  pressure 
of  influence  from  God,  and  in  directness  of  appeal,  stirred  the  better  sensibil- 
ities of  a  very  large  and  profoundly  interested  audience.  The  defects  of 
religious  character  were  so  pictured  that  hearts  cried  out  for  the  living  God 
to  cleanse  and  make  them  new.  The  light  poured  on  soul-consecration  ena- 
bled many  to  make  a  full  surrender,  and  making  it,  they  were  speedily  brought 
into  liberty. 


A    MODERN   PENTECOST.  181 

TUESDAY  AFTERNOON. 
SERMON  BY  REV.  GEORGE  HUGHES. 

"  Where  is  the  Lord  God  of  Elijah  r'— 2  Kings  2  :   U. 

Elijah,  the  faithful  prophet  of  God,  had  been  suddenly  translated  from  earth 
to  heaven  in  a  chariot  of  fire.  In  this  termination  of  his  career  God  put 
special  honor  upon  his  devoted  servant.  He  had  passed  over  Jordan  accompa- 
nied by  Elisha.  As  they  came  to  the  river  he  smote  the  waters  with  his  staff, 
and  they  stood  up  on  either  side,  making  a  clear  path  for  them  to  pass  over  to 
the  other  bank. 

As  they  went  on  and  talked  together,  behold  there  appeared  a  chariot  of  fire 
and  horses  of  fire.  The  prophet  entered  the  chariot,  and  a  whirlwind  swept 
him  upward  to  his  heavenly  home.  Elisha,  gazing  upon  the  on-rolling  chariot 
bearing  his  honored  master  to  the  celestial  city,  was  constrained  to  exclaim, 
"My  father,  my  father,  the  chariot  of  Israel,  and  the  horsemen  thereof!" 
Taking  up  the  mantle  of  Elijah,  he  returned  to  the  Jordan,  and,  smiting  the 
waters,  he  cried,  "  Where  is  the  Lord  God  of  Elijah?"  The  same  miraculous 
result  was  realized  as  in  the  former  instance,  the  waters  being  divided,  and 
Elisha  crossing  over  to  enter  on  his  life-work. 

The  text  is  selected  for  practical  purposes,  and  we  inquire — 

I.  When  may  this  inquiry  be  made,  with  the  certain  expectation  of  a  satis- 
factory answer?  There  are  various  occasions  when  it  may  be  satisfactorily 
propounded,  but  we  shall  simply  refer  to  one,  an  occasion  of  transcendent 
interest,  illustrated  in  the  singularly  glorious  life  of  Elijah — viz.,  the  hour  of 
sacrifice. 

The  prophet,  under  divine  direction,  showed  himself  to  the  wicked  Ahab. 
He  called  for  the  assembling  of  Israel,  and  also  for  the  four  hundred  and  fifty 
prophets  of  Baal,  and  the  four  hundred  prophets  of  the  grove,  that  the  question 
of  the  authority  and  dominion  of  the  Lord  Jehovah  might  be  definitely  settled. 

When  the  Israelites,  in  connection  with  the  prophets  of  Baal,  were  assembled, 
the  challenge  was  made  by  Elijah,  "  How  long  halt  ye  between  two  opinions?" 
&c.  ;  and  the  proposal  for  the  oflfering  of  a  bullock,  and  the  God  that  answered 
by  fire  should  be  declared  to  be  THE  GOD.  The  result  is  well  known.  The 
God  of  Elijah  was  shown  to  be  the  one  true  and  living  God. 

In  the  light  of  this  portion  of  Old  Testament  history,  we  remark  that  a  satis- 
factory response  to  the  inquiry,  "Where  is  the  Lord  God  of  Elijah?"  is  depend- 
ent upon  the  offering  of  a  sacrifice  corresponding  to  that  of  Elijah.  Note  its 
prominent  features : 

1.  It  must  be  a  whole  sacrifice,  like  the  whole  bullock  offered  by  Elijah. 
God  requires  this.  Unless  there  be  an  entire  offering  of  ourselves  to  God, 
there  can  be  no  answering  tokens.  Any  degree  of  mental  reservation  will  mar 
the  offering.  Many,  presenting  their  sacrifice,  wonder  why  there  is  not  the 
descending  fire.     Here  is  the  difl&culty, — the  offering  is  not  entire.     There  is 


182  SIXTEENTH   NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

a  test  presented,  which  challenges  the  submission  of  the  will.  I-  may  be  a 
very  little  thing,  and  yet  involving  the  vital  question  of  submission — entire 
submission. 

2.  The  sacriflce  must  be  laid  on  the  altar.  Elijah's  altar  was  carefully  pre- 
pared. It  was  the  altar  of  the  Lord — his  by  special  appointment.  It  had  been 
broken  down,  and  was  "now  builded  again,  composed  of  twelve  stones,  repre- 
senting the  twelve  tribes. 

We  have  an  altar — already  prepared — never  broken  down.  It  is  divinely 
prepared — an  efficacious  altar — which  is  Christ.  A  sacrifice  laid  thereupon  is 
well  pleasing  to  God,  and  must  be  accepted. 

3.  It  must  be  entirely  separated  from  human  dependencies. 

Elijah  fully  guarded  this  point.  There  was  the  water  of  separation — barrel 
after  barrel,  poured  upon  the  sacrifice,  and  every  human  hand  taken  therefrom. 
There  it  lay  upon  the  altar,  divorced  completely  from  all  human  endeavors  or 
dependencies.  There  is  a  difficulty  at  this  point,  in  the  case  of  many  now  in 
offiiring  themselves  to  God.  They  are  seeking  salvation  by  their  own  effort. 
All  this  must  be  abandoned. 

4.  It  must  be  definitely  presented  to  God.  Here  we  notice  in  the  case  of 
Elijah,  deliberation.  It  was  the  hour  of  evening  sacrifice — the  accepted  hour. 
Solemn  address  to  God.  The  terms  and  the  manner  both  solemn.  His  eye 
toward  heaven,  his  appeal  to  the  Lord  God  of  Abraham,  Isaac  and  Israel. 

The  exercise  of  true  faith — indicated  by  the  removal  of  the  sacrifice  utterly 
beyond  human  dependencies — and  the  calmness  of  his  address  to  God.  Thus 
must  our  sacrifice  be  characterized. 

II.  The  satisfactory  character  of  the  answer  given  to  this  inquiry — Where  is 
the  Lord  God  of  Elijah  ? 

Mount  Carmel  afforded  a  sublime  demonstration  of  the  character  and  domin- 
ion of  the  Lord  God  of  Elijah.  And  there  are  multiplied  demonstrations  in 
connection  with  the  sacrifices  of  God's  people. 

1.  The  answer  was  peculiar  in  character.  An  answer  of  fire — an  all-consum- 
ing fire,  in  two  respects.  1.  As  to  the  victim  itself;  and  2.  As  to  the  outward 
connections,  consuming  the  stones  of  the  altar,  and  licking  up  the  water  in  the 
trenches.  This  beautifully  symbolizes  two  things  in  regard  to  full  salvation. 
1.  The  entire  consumption  of  inward  impurity,  and  the  absorption  of  the  whole 
being  by  God  himself,  and  the  full  devotement  of  every  faculty  to  the  divine 
glory.  2.  The  entire  consumption  of  all  outward  sinful  connections,  represented 
by  the  altar  and  the  water  in  the  trenches.  The  work  of  justification  cuts  the 
sinful  connections  grandly,  so  that  sin  does  not  have  dominion,  effecting  a  de- 
cided change  in  the  whole  spirit  and  life.  Entire  santification  intensifies  this 
separation  from  the  world,  and  gives  an  elevated  tone  to  the  whole  character  and 
Ufe. 

2.  The  answer  was  overwhelming  in  effect.  In  the  overturning  of  skepticism 
— skepticism  among  the  people  of  God.  All  the  people  when  they  saw  the  fiery 
demonstration,  fell  on  their  faces:  and  they  said,  "The  Lord,  he  is  the  God: 
the  Lord  he  is  the  God  !"  So  the  skepticism  now  existing  in  the  Church  is  to 
be  chased  away  by  the  spirit  of  burning — the  holy  fire  resting  upon  and  con- 
suming the  subjects  of  full  salvation. 

In  the  destruction  of  ialse  religion.  The  Baal  prophets  and  worshipers  were 
destroyed.  So  the  Baal-worship  of  the  modern  Church  is  to  be  utterly  con- 
sumed.    Ritualism,  and  every  form  of  false  worship  is  to  be  consumed  by  fire. 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  183 

3.  The  answer  was  sudden.  The  fire  leaped  over  the  heavenly  battlements, 
in  answer  to  Elijah's  prayer  and  fiiith.  So  when  we  have  the  sacrifice  truly  on 
the  altar,  the  answer  of  fire  will  not  be  long  delayed.  The  Lord  will  avenge  his 
elect  speedily. 

4.  This  revelation  of  Elijah's  God  gives  marching  orders,  and  marching 
strength. 

Elisha,  now  the  representative  of  God's  people,  proved  this  at  Jordan.  As  he 
inquired  after  the  Lord  God  of  Elijah,  he  was  at  hand  to  reveal  his  power,  and 
to  open  for  him  a  channel  through  the  waters.  The  Church  now  has  her  Jordans 
to  cross.  The  ministry  has  such  calls.  What  is  to  be  done  ?  Shall  the  cry 
be :  "  Where  are  the  Lexicons,  where  are  the  Cyclopedias,  the  Philosophies  of 
the  ages,  the  Sciences?"  Rather  let  it  be,  Where  is  the  Lord  God  of  Elijah? 
And  an  open  channel  shall  be  presented.  So  the  Church  in  various  departments 
has  her  Jordans  to  cross,  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  times.  Let  her  cry. 
Where  is  the  Lord  God  of  Elijah?  And  she  shall  not  stand  on  the  bank  won- 
dering or  confounded,  but  shall  triumphantly  pass  over,  and  fulfill  her  glorious 
destiny. 

We  need  here  an  answer  to  the  question:  Where  is  the  Lord  God  of  Elijah? 
We  have  had  it  in  part,  but  let  us  look  for  a  complete  demonstration,  a  fiery  de- 
monstration. 


TUESDAY   EVENING. 
SERMON  BY  REV.  C.  F.  TURNER,  Presiding  Elder. 

"  Miglity  to  Save.'" — Isa.  63  :   L 

The  text,  is  predicated  of  Jesus  Christ.  It  could  not  be  of  any  other, 
for,  "  There  is  none  other  name  under  heaven,  given  among  men,  where- 
by'^ we  must  be  saved."  All  the  angels  in  heaven,  with  their  combined  wis- 
dom and  power,  could  not  save  a  single  sinner.  But  Jesus  can  save  all 
sinners  who  will  come  unto  him  for  salvation.  He  came  into  this  world 
for  this  purpose,  and  is  fully  able  to  accomplish  his  glorious  work.  Man 
by  nature  is  deeply  fallen,  and  exceedingly  sinful.  Humanity  needs  a 
mighty  Saviour.  The  necessity  has  been  graciously  and  fully  met.  Man 
may  be  saved.  Saved  from  sin  and  wrath,  and  raised  to  heaven  to  enjoy 
its  perfect  bliss  forever. 

"  Jesus  the  name  to  sinners  dear, 
The  name  to  siunors  given, 
The  name  that  charms  our  guilty  fears 
And  turns  our  heU  to  heaven." 

Mighty  !  Almighty  to  save  !  The  appropriate  topic  suggested  by  the 
text  is 

I.    The  Almightiness  of  Christ  to  save  sinners. 

He  is  almighty  to  save.  This  is  claimed  for  him  in  the  book  divine 
of  truth  eternal.     This  he  claims  for  himself.     The  claim  we  propose  to 


184  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL    CAMP-MEETING. 

establish  and  illustrate.     In  the  foundation  upon  which  it  rests  there  are 
three  essential  elements. 

1.  His  Divinity! 

Take  from  Christ  his  Divinity,  and  you  take  from  humanity  all  hope  of 
salvation.  We  need  g.  divine  Saviour.  Nothing  short  of  omnipotence 
can  save  us.  Christ  is  divine,  therefore  omnipotent,  and  consequently 
able  to  save  to  the  uttermost,  all  them  that  come  unto  him.  This  blessed 
truth  is  clearly  and  impressively  taught  throughout  the  sacred  Scriptures, 
and  was  most  perfectly  illustrated  by  Christ  himself,  when  on  earth,  as 
he  healed  the  sick,  restored  the  blind  to  sight,  and  the  lame  to  soundness 
by  the  word  of  his  power.  As  he  raised  the  dead  to  life,  and  then  went 
down  into  the  realm  of  death  himself,  and  conquered  the  king  of  terrors 
in  his  own  empire,  and  came  forth  a  divine  conqueror  on  the  morning  of 
the  third  day. 

"  Some  take  him  a  creature  to  be, 
A  man  or  an  aOgel  at  most, 
Sure  tliese  liave  no  feelings  like  me, 
Nor  know  themselves  wretched  and  lost. 

"  So  fallen,  so  helpless  am  I, 

I  could  not  confide  in  his  word. 
Unless  I  could  make  the  reply, 
That  Christ  is  my  Lord  and  my  God." 

One  of  the  greatest  statesmen  of  this  country  was  asked  by  a  skeptical 
friend,  what  he  thought  of  the  Divinity  of  Christ.  He  replied,  "  I  be- 
lieve him  divine ;  if  I  did  not  I  could  not  trust  my  soul  in  his  hands,  for 
it  will  require  Omnipotence  to  save  me."  Thus  may  we  all  feel.  But 
satisfied  and  impressed  that  Jesus  is  divine,  we  confidently  and  safely  trust 
in  his  almightiness  to  save  us  unto  the  uttermost.  But  essential  as  is  this 
to  our  salvation,  we  are  not  saved  by  simple  powei-.  If  this  could  have 
been,  Jesus  would  not  have  tasted  death  for  us.  We  must  be  saved  in 
harmony  with  all  the  attributes  of  God  and  all  the  elements  of  the  divine 
government  ;  hence  the  second  element  in  the  foundation  of  Christ's  al- 
mightiness to  save,  is 

2.  The  completeness  of  the  atonement  he  has  made  for  us. 

We  have  been  redeemed  not  by  power  simply,  but  by  price.  A  price 
beyond  all  price,  even  the  precious  blood  of  Christ.  "  Without  shedding 
of  blood  there  is  no  remission,"  but  Jesus  shed  his  blood  for  us.  The 
price  by  Justice  demanded  was  paid  down  and  the  covenant  of  grace 
therewith  sealed.  Now,  God  may  be  just  and  the  justifier  of  all  who  be- 
lieve in  Jusus.  Redemption's  price  was  in  harmony  with  the  magnitude 
of  humanity's  offense,  both  were  infinite. 

"  The  debt  that  sinners  owed, 
Upon  the  cross  he  paid." 

But  as  we  are  not  saved  by  simple  power,  so  we  are  not  saved  by  simple 
price,  nor  by  the  combination  of  power  and  price  ;  hence  the  third  ele- 
ment in  this  glorious  foundation,  viz.: 

3.  The  efficacy  and  perpetuity  of  His  intercession. 

"He  ever  liveth  to  make  intercession  for  us,"  and  can  "  therefore  save 
to  the  uttermost."  "If  any  man  sin,  we  have  an  advocate  with  the 
Father,  even  Jesus  Christ  the  righteous."     The  death  of  Christ  procured 


A    MODERN    PENTECOST.  '*  185 

our  redemption  ;  his  intercession  secures  to  us  the  benefits  of  that  redemp- 
tion. Without  such  intercession,  the  Father  could  not  be  long-suffering 
towards  us,  and  we  should  be  cut  off.  Nor  could  we  have  the  help  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  to  work  in  us  enabling  us  to  will,  and  do,  and  thus  to  work 
out  our  own  salvation.  But  Jesus  pleads.  The  Father'  spares.  The 
Spirit  strives.  We  repent,  and  believe,  and  Jesus  saves.  O  the  efficacy 
of  his  intercession  !  He  pleads,  not  our  innocence,  but  the  infinite  merits 
of  his  own  blood !  How  can  he  but  prevail  !  And  this  intercession  is 
perpetual.     "  He  ever  liveth  to  make  intercession." 

A  few  years  ago  I  visited  a  prisoner  under  a  charge  of  murder.  I  at- 
tended the  trial.  His  advocate  was  one  of  the  most  learned  and  eloquent 
I  ever  heard.  The  client  had  full  confidence  in  his  advocate,  and  the 
advocate  seemed  to  make  his  client's  cause  his  own.  The  pleading  closed. 
The  jury  retired.  We  waited  with  great  anxiety.  They  returned.  The 
prisoner  arose  in  his  place.  The  jury  was  called  to  give  the  verdict,  and 
replied — "  Not  guilty  !"  We  gathered  around  the  advocate  and  his  ac- 
quitted client,  and  rejoiced  with  them  that  the  case  was  gained.  A  short 
time  after  I  visited  another  prisoner  soon  to  be  tried  for  the  same  offense. 
He  was  an  old  man,  and  I  pitied  him  much.  The  trial  came.  His  ad- 
vocate was  as  learned  and  eloquent  as  in  the  other  case.  The  client  had 
confidence  in  the  advocate,  and  the  advocate  was  fully  confident  of  suc- 
cess. The  pleading  closed.  The  jury  retired.  We  waited  long  and 
anxiously.  They  returned.  Their  verdict  was  called  for,  and  they  re- 
plied "Guilty!"  We  wept  in  pity  for  the  old  man  condemned,  and 
congratulated  not  his  advocate,  for  his  earnest  and  eloquent  pleading  had 
failed.  Thus  it  is  with  advocates,  in  human  courts  of  justice.  To-day 
they  succeed,  to-morrow  fail.  But  our  Advocate  in  Heaven's  court  has 
never  lost  a  case  properly  committed  to  his  care,  and  never  can,  for  he 
admits  our  guilt,  and  pleads  the  price^by  justice  demanded  in  our  behalf, 
and  while  he  thus  pleads, 

"  The  Father  hears  him  pray, 
His  dear  anointed  One, 
He  cannot  turn  away 
The  presence  of  his  Son." 

God  be  praised  for  such  an  Advocate  ! 

Where,  then,  shall  we  find  the  limitation  of  God's  power  to  save?  With 
these  elements  blending,  and  harmonizing,  his  power  is  almighty  ! 

But  this  power  is  exercised  in  harmony  with  the  divine  will,  within  the 
limits  of  the  covenant  of  grace,  which  contracts  to  save  all  who  repent 
and  accept  Christ  by  faith,  as  their  personal  and  sufficient  Saviour.  He 
that  believeth  shall  be  saved. 

(i.)  Personal  Guilt,  therefore  is  not  a  limitation.  Though  our  sins  in 
multitude  be  as  the  sand's  of  ocean's  shore,  and  in  magnitude  as  mighty 
mountains,  they  may  all  be  forgiven.  Hear  the  words  of  one  who  had 
been  a  vile  persecutor.  "  It  is  a  faithful  saying  and  worthy  of  all  accept- 
ation that  Jesus  Christ  came  into  the  word  to  save  sinners,  of  whom  I  am 
chief."  But  O,  how  gloriously  Jesus  saved  Saul  of  Tarsus,  and  made  him 
Paul  the  Apostle  !  The  salvation  of  any  sinner  is  a  miracle  of  grace,  but 
what  a  stupendous  miracle  to  save  the  most  guilty  who  are  nearest  the  pit  of 
destruction!     But  it  is  written,   '•' If  a;/)- ;//«/z  will  confess  his  sins,  he  is 


186  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

faithful  and  just  to  forgive  him  his  sins  and  to  cleanse  him  from  all  un- 
righteousness. ' ' 

(2.)  Personal  Moral  Pollution  is  not  a  limitation.  The  whole  head 
may  be  sick,  the  whole  heart  faint,  from  the  crown  of  the  head  to  the  sole 
of  the  foot,  no  soundness,  but  wounds,  and  bruises,  and  putrifying  sores 
that  have  not  been  closed,  neither  bound  up  nor  mollified  without  oint- 
ment, but  Jesus  can  make  us  every  whit  whole.  "  Come  now  and  let  us 
reason  together,  saith  the  Lord  ;  though  your  sins  be  as  scarlet,  they  shall 
be  as  white  as  snow ;  though  they  be  red  like  crimson,  they  shall  be  as 
wool."  A  wondrous  power !  But  failure  here  would  be  fatal.  If  Jesus 
cannot  save  us  from  all  moral  pollution,  he  cannot  save  us  at  all,  for 
"^  without  holiness  no  man  shall  see  the  Lord."  But  the  blood  of  Jesus 
Christ  cleanseth  from  all  sin.  Could  we  draw  aside  the  veil  and  look  into 
heaven  upon  the  white  robed,  we  should  doubtless  see  many  whose  sins 
have  been  of  the  deepest  dye,  and  who  were  brought  from  the  greatest 
depths  of  moral  pollution.  But  the  Almighty  to  save,  brought  them  up, 
and  washed  them  white,  therefore  are  they  before  the  throne.  Could 
they  speak  to  us,  they  would  say  '"He  saved  us,  surely  he  can  save  any; 
fear  not ;  his  power  and  willingness  avails."  Nor  does  he  need  the  help 
of  death,  or  his  near  approach,  or  purgatorial  flames.  He  can  do  the  work 
himself,  and  do  it  now.  Wliat  a  reflection  upon  Christ  to  say,  He  can  save 
from  all  sin  in  death,  or  just  before,  but  not  in  time  to  give  us  opportu- 
nity to  illustrate  to  a  wicked  world,  by  a  holy  life,  the  mighty  power  of 
Jusus  to  save  from  all  sin.  He  can  save  us  now,  for  to-day  is  the  day  of 
full  salvation. 

"  Sing  then  of  his  mighty  love, 
Mighty  to  save." 

(3,)  The  temporary  reign  of  death  over  our  bodies,  is  not  a  limit. 
Death  is  a  conquered  foe ;  permitted  to  reign  over  our  bodies  for  a  time. 
But  Jesus  went  into  the  grave  and  conquered  the  King  of  Terrors  in  his 
own  realm,  and  became  the  first  fruits  of  them  that  slept.    When  he  rose — 

"  Then,  then  I  rose ;  then  first  humanity 
Triumphant  past  the  crystal  ports  of  light — 
Stupendous  guest ;  and  seized  eternal  youth — 
Seized  in  our  name  e'er  since  'tis  blasphemous 
To  call  man  mortal,  man's  mortality 
Uualienably  sealed  to  this  frail  frame. 
This  child  of  dust.    Man  all  immortal  hail." 

All  we  lost  in  Adam  we  shall  regain  in  Christ.  "  As  in  Adam  all  died, 
even  so  in  Christ  shall  all  be  made  alive."  "  This  corruptible  must  put 
on  immortality.  So  when  this  corruptible  shall  have  put  on  incorrup- 
tion,  and  this  mortal  shall  have  put  on  immortality;"  then  shall  be 
brought  to  pass  the  saying  that  is  written,  "  Death  is  swallowed  up  in  vic- 
tory. O  death,  where  is  thy  sting  ?  O  grave  where  is  thy  victory.  The 
sting  of  death  is  sin ;  and  the  strength  of  sin  is  the  law.  But  thanks  be 
to  God,  which  giveth  us  the  victory,  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 
Mighty  to  save  ! 

Application. — In  the  combination  of  elements  considered  we  have  as 
clear  and  impressive  evidence  of  the  willingness,  as  of  the  almighty  power 
of  Jesus  to  save  sinners  ;   and  come  to  the  following  conclusions  : 


A    MODERN    PENTECOST.  187 

1.  The  experience  of  the  Church  ought  to  be  in  harmony  with  the  pro- 
visions divinely  made  for  our  salvation. 

2.  Any  experience  below  the  standard  of  salvation  from  all  sin,  is  not 
in  harmony  with  these  provisions.  There  is  a  sad  and  humiliating  dis- 
crepancy which  greatly  hinders  the  Church  in  the  accomplishment  of 
the  glorious  work  of  this  world's  conversion. 

3.  That  the  Church  may  be  clothed  with  power  to  accomplish  her  bles- 
sed mission,  harmony  should  be  restored,  and  on  the  banners  of  the 
Church  should  be  inscribed  in  letters  of  living  light — Holijiess  unto  the 
Lord! 

4.  Hence  the  propriety  of  making  a  specialty  of  holiness  in  this  dispen- 
sation of  the  Spirit.  These  last  times  so  near  the  approach  of  millennial 
glory. 

"  Hasten,  Lord,  the  perfect  day  ; 
Now  thy  every  servant  aay, — 
I  have  now  obtained  the  power, 
Born  of  God  to  sin  no  more." 

5.  The  subject  is  full  of  encouragement  to  all  who  desire  to  be  saved. 
Jesus  is  able  and  willing  to  save,  and  to  save  this  hour.  Hear  him  say- 
ing, "  Come  unto  me  all  ye  that  labor  and  are  heaven  laden  and  I  will 
give  you  rest."  Come  by  faith,  and  he  will  give  you  rest  from  sin. 
Come  test  the  power  of  his  precious  blood  to  cleanse  from  all  sin.  But 
come  now,  for  to-morrow,  to  thee,  may  never  be.  Noiv  is  the  accepted 
time — the  day  of  salvation.     Come  to  the  Mighty  to  save  ! 


AFTER  THE  SERMON. 

During  the  delivery  of  Brother  Turner's  sermon  a  degree  of  enthusiasm  had 
been  awakened,  which  frequently  found  expression  in  "Amens"  and  the  excla- 
mation "Hallelujah!"  At  one  passage  the  preacher  asked  the  whole  congrega- 
tion to  repeat  in  concert  with  him,  "  Mighty  to  save !"  When  he  closed, 
under  great  excitement,  Mr.  Inskip  rose  to  exhort.  He  enjoined  upon  every 
Christian  before  him  solemnly  to  do  whatsoever  God  should  make  plain  to 
them  as  their  present  duty.  He  said,  "  I  believe  the  hour  is  now  at  hand  when 
the  mighty  baptism  shall  come  upon  this  encampment.  The  great  mental 
conflict  through  which  I  have  been  passing  indicates  to  me  the  hour  of  victory 
is  now  upon  us.  Are  you  willing,  every  one  of  you,  to  do  your  duty,  whatever 
it  may  be?" 

Voices  all  through  the  audience — "Yes." 

"  God  may  send  you  forth,  either  alone  or  by  twos,  or  in  larger  numbers, 
through  the  congregation,  or  to  the  tents,  or  to  those  who  may  be  standing 
around  the  circle  and  on  the  outskirts  of  the  camp,  to  invite  and  plead  with 
sinners  to  come  to  Jesus.     Will  you  do  it?" 

Scores  reply — "  Yes,  we  are  ready." 


188  SIXTEENTH   NATIONAL    CAMP-MEETING. 

"  Be  in  earnest,  then  ;  and  as  you  go,  and  where  you  go,  say  to  every  one, 
'  Come  to  Jesus.'  I  believe  five  hundred  souls  may  be  converted  to-night. 
Now,  are  you  ready?"  Yes,  they  were  ready.  "Then  get  out  from  this  altar. 
Clear  a  large  space  here.  Open  the  way."  Seeing  persons  lingering  and 
talking,  he  thundered,  "  Get  out  of  the  way  there,  I  command  you  !  Don't  be 
offended.  We  must  see  this  through.  Be  still.  I  charge  you  to  be  quiet. 
Move  on,  and  bring  them  in.  Let  sinners  come  and  kneel  here.  Here  they 
come!"     Then  was  sung — 

"  Come  to  Jesus,  come  to  Jesus, 
Come  to  Jesus  now  ; 
He  will  save  you.  He  will  save  you, 
He  will  save  you  now." 

A  meeting  of  great  activity  followed,  and  many  of  those  who  came  weeping 
for  sin  received  pardoning  grace ;  whilst  those  who  went  forth  exhorting  and 
persuading  the  impenitent,  found  access  to  hearts  which  melted  under  their 
appeals,  and  God  was  glorified  in  bringing  wanderers  back  to  his  family  and 
fold.  The  effect  of  such  a  movement,  also,  upon  those  who  sprang  to  the  work, 
was  most  blessed  in  an  increase  of  light  and  liberty  to  their  own  souls. 


EIGHTH  DAY. 

WEDNESDAY  MORNING. 

At  the  first  sound  of  the  bell  on  Wednesday  morning,  the  encampment  was 
aroused,  and  the  early  meeting  brought  out  a  large  number  of  those  who  were 
awakened  the  previous  night  to  feel  the  burden  of  their  sins.  The  members  of 
the  National  Association  were  all  astir,  attending  to  those  who  claimed  their 
first  sympathies — penitent  souls.  Believers,  too,  were  at  the  altar  seeking 
purity,  and  a  glorious  scene  was  experienced,  in  the  display  of  converting  and 
sanctifying  power. 

THE  8  O'CLOCK  SERVICES. 

Brother  Gray,  after  reading  a  Psalm,  made  the  following  remarks:  "The 
clearest  and  most  acceptable  form  of  faith  is  that  of  accepting  God's*  promises, 
and  waiting  patiently  for  their  fulfillment.  The  Psalmist  said,  '  I  waited 
patiently  for  the  Lord,  and  he  inclined  unto  me  and  heard  my  cry.'  I  want 
some  soul  to  receive  the  touches  of  the  divine  life  in  full  salvation  during  this 


A   MODERN  PENTECOST.  189 

morning's  meeting.  Let  us  remember  that  the  more  we  pray,  tbe  more  we 
shall  be  blessed.  0  blessed  Jesus,  help  us!  Let. us  all  come  before  God  in 
supplication." 

Then  followed  in  rapid  succession  nine  prayers,  the  time  occupied  in  all  being 
about  fifteen  minutes. 

The  spirit  of  devotion  manifested  in  the  prayers  found  ekpression  in  the 
song: 

"  I  love  thee,  I  love  thee,  I  love  thee,  my  Lord  ; 
I  love  thee,  my  Saviour,  I  trust  in  thy  word; 
I_  love  thee,  I  love  thee,  and  that  thou  dost  know, 
But  hoTv  much  I  love  thee  I  never  can  show." 

"  Now,"  said  Brother  Gr.,  "we  will  have  a  short  season  for  experience.  Let 
your  testimony  be,  not  of  the  past,  but  how  you  are  moving  in  the  divine  life 
this  morning.  The  very  first  thing,  when  the  light  saluted  my  eyes  this 
morning,  I  was  constrained  to  say,  '  Glory  to  God  !'  The  baptism  of  last  night 
was  still  resting  on  me."     Singing — 

"  The  blessing  by  faith  I  receive  from  above, 
0  glory !  my  soul  is  made  perfect  in  love,"  Ac. 

In  about  half  an  hour,  ninety  persons  testified  to  the  work  of  salvation,  as 
wrought  in  their  hearts  by  the  Holy  Ghost. 


HOLINESS  AND  TOBACCO. 

When  Brother  Bell,  of  New  York,  and  Brother  Fish,  of  Philadelphia,  deliv- 
ered their  testimonies  against  the  use  of  tobacco.  Rev.  W.  H.  Boole  arose  and 
said  :  "  I  want  just  here,  to  put  you  on  your  guard  against  keeping  the  money 
in  your  pockets  which  comes  from  the  abandonment  of  this  abominable  practice. 
There  are  some  things  that  might  as  well  be  said  here.  I  think  it  is  not  worth 
while  to  take  up  tiie  time  in  addressing  ladies  in  reference  to  the  wearing  of 
jewelry,  &c.  If  they  take  Jesus  for  their  portion,  all  right;  if  they  prefer 
jewelry,  they  don't  want  Christ.  It  is  a  simple  question.  But,  in  regard  to 
tobacco,  you  know  it  to  be  an  inexcusable  indulgence." 

A  brother — "I  want  to  say  something  just  here." 

Brother  Inskip — "  Never  mind,  let  Bro.  Boole  go  on ;  he  has  '  struck  oil ' 
here." 

The  speaker  then  referred  to  the  enormous  waste  of  money  in  the  use  of 
tobacco,  giving  facts  and  figures  to  show  that  it  is  a  most  expensive  as  well  as 
filthy  indulgence.  He  then  said:  "Men  are  constantly  provoking  God,  by 
putting  the  money  in  their  pockets,  which  his  salvation  has  brought  them,  in 
saving  them  from  their  vile  habits.  When  the  Church  and  world  shall  see 
that  you  do  more  for  the  cause  of  God,  by  the  abandonment  of  your  habits, 
then  they  will  have  the  more  confidence  in  the  genuineness  of  the  work  as 
wrought  in  you. 


190  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

"But,  about  this  tobacco  business,  I  want  to  say,  no  man  ever  got  the 
witness  of  his  full  salvation,  if  he  had  been  a  victim  to  this  habit,  who  can  say 
that  he  received  the  blessing  without  its  taking  away  the  passion  for  tobacco. 
Every  sanctified  man  on  the  continent  will  assent  to  that  " 

Bro.  Inskip — ' '  Bro.  Boole,  tell  us  right  here,  what  is  the  efifeet  on  our  justi- 
fication, when  we  have  the  light  of  the  present  before  us,  on  this  question." 

Bro.  Boole — "  When  I  come  to  the  point  of  refusing  to  follow  the  light 
which  shines  around  me,  I  lose  my  light  of  justification.  If  a  man  is  convinced 
that  it  is  wrong  to  use  tobacco,  he  cannot  do  it  and  retain  his  justification.  A 
man  must  walk  up  to  the  point  of  light  that  he  has.  I  cannot  think  that  any 
Christian  who  has  attended  through  this  series  of  meetings,  is  now,  after  all  he 
has  seen  and  heard,  still  indulging  in  this  practice.  (A  voice:  'Yes,  there  is.') 
0  let  us  have  clean  work.     Leave  oflF  this  tobacco." 

The  question  discussed  was  evidently  an  interesting  one  to  all  in  the  congre- 
gation. 

Immediately  upon  the  close  of  Bro.  Boole's  remarks,  Rev.  W.  Post,  of  West- 
ern New  York,  then  stepping  forward,  spoke  at  considerable  length  on 

HOLINESS  AND  FREE  MASONRY. 

He  said  :  "  I  feel  moved  by  the  Holy  Spirit  to  speak.  Bro.  Boole  has  said 
much,  and  truthfully  too,  respecting  the  loss  the  Church  sustains  by  the  prac- 
tices, and  conformities  he  has  mentioned.  But,  I  desire  to  say,  impelled  by  a 
sense  of  duty,  though  I  would  not  on  any  consideration  afflict  any  of  Christ's 
little  ones,  that  there  is  an  evil,  not  yet  referred  to  here,  before  which  all  the 
evils  mentioned,  dwindle  into  insignificance  ;  one  which,  beyond  them  all,  pre- 
vents the  onward  march  of  holiness  in  our  Church.  I  have  laid  reputation  and 
all,  on  the  altar  of  God,  and  would  willingly  die  for  the  Church,  which  I  love 
as  my  life.  I  love  my  brethren  ;  therefore,  bear  with  me  while  I  state  my  con- 
viction that  the  greatest  evil  is  oath-bound,  secret  organizations ;  Godless,  and 
Christless ;  Godless  because  Christless  ;  blasphemous  and  infidel ;  another  relig- 
ion than  that  of  the  Bible  ;  whose  origin  is  from  the  bottomless  pit.  I  know 
whereof  I  affirm,  being  also  in  communication  with  some  of  the  best  minds  of 
the  country  touching  this  matter.  We  find  in  a  Masonic  Ritual  (Sickler's,") 
the  first  three  degrees  involves,  '  all  that  the  soul  of  rrian  requires.'  In  another 
it  is  said  in  substance,  if  not  word  for  word,  that  Masons  living  up  to  Masonic 
principles,  '  are  free  from  sin.' 

"  This  is  the  thing'  we  have  to  grapple  with,  and  contend  against.  In  sup- 
port, by  a  brief  address,  of  certain  resolutions,  which  I  presented  at  our  former 
E.  G.  Conference,  Masonry  was  delineated  and  denounced,  and  certain  exposi- 
tions made,  which  induced  a  youYig  minister — a  master  Mason — of  another  Con- 
ference, who  read  it,  to  say,  the  man  is  a  Mason  who  delivered  that  address,  be- 
cause tliere  are  points  in  it  understood  only  by  Masons.  This  tended  to  confirm 
me  that  I  knew  something  about  Masonry.  JJosides,  after  I  had  delivered  it,  a 
Royal  Arch  Mason  who  had  not  been  in  the  Lodge  for. many  years,  called  on 
me  and  said:  '  Bro.  Post,  I  am  glad  you  said  what  you  did  ;  every  word  of  it  is 
true,  and  when  it  becomes  necessary  you  may  use  my  name.'     A  JMason,  now 


A    MODERN   PENTECOST.  191 

on  this  stand,  said  to  me  yesterday :  After  I  obtained  the  blessing  of  sanctifi- 
cation,  I  sent  word  to  the  Lodge,  '  when  I  wish  to  come  back,  I  will  let  you 
know.' 

''Now,  brethren,  if  there  can  be  found  any  where  in  any  Masonic  Ritual,  up 
to  the  thirty-third  degree,  that  faith  in  Christ  Jesus  is  taught  as  a  condition  of 
salvation,  I  will  at  once  and  forever  cease  my  aggression.  I  thank  you,  breth- 
ren for  your  kindness,  and  would  say,  I  am  all  the  Lord's,  and  love  my  blessed 
Jesus." 

The  delivery  of  this  outspoken  testimony  was  not  endorsed  by  the  National 
Association.  The  President  said :  "  We  do  not  want  you  to  understand  that 
Bro.  Post  has  the  full  sympathy  of  this  Association  on  this  subject ;  some 
among  us  do  not  think  as  he  does.  :  There  are  many  good  men  who  think  dif- 
"ferently  from  our  dear  brother,  but  I  know  his  heart  is  right,  and  with  many 
things  he  said,  I  am  myself  in  sympathy ;  but  it  is  not  profitable  for  us  to  dis- 
cuss such  matters,  we  think,  in  this  meeting." 


DR.  LOWREY'S  SERMON. 

At  10  A.  M.,  Rev.  Dr.  Lowrey  preached  from  1  John  5:  10.  We  can  give 
but  a  bare  synopsis  of  his  clear  exposition  of  this  text. 

He  said  :  To  believe  is  to  have — to  have  a  double  blessing,  to  wit :  salvation 
and  a  knowledge  of  salvation.  These  two  elements  can  no  more  be  separated 
than  the  sun  can  be  separated  from  his  rays,  the  rose  from  its  fragrance,  or  the 
live  heart  from  its  pulsations. 

A  Christian  is  a  composite  number  including  two  factors,  faith,  and  its  wit- 
ness; and  we  can  no  more  make  a  Christian  without  these  parts  than  we  can 
make  an  equation,  without  equal  quantities,  or  a  balance  without  equal  weights. 
Faith  in  its  actings  is  a  duality,  including  cause  and  effect,  substance  and  proof, 
a  witness  giving  testimony  to  the  conscience.  The  evidence  of  Christian  purity 
is  not  from  without,  but  from  within.  It  is  subjective,  not  objective.  The  pro- 
cess of  arriving  at  a  knowledge  of  the  spiritual  estate,  is  that  of  introspection  and 
mutual  analysis.  The  method,  philosophically  considered,  is  empirical,  not  de- 
ductive. A  Christian  therefore  depends  on  experience,  and  the  attestations 
are  made  to  the  heart  in  secret  session  with  God. 

The  proposition  of  the  text  is  that  a  believer  is  certified  of  his  condition,  and 
certified  within  himself. 

By  whom,  and  ivhat,  does  a  Christian  Icnoio  of  these  things  ?  If  such 
knowledge  is  attainable,  it  must  be  divinely  communicated.  A  man  may  fancy, 
presume,  and  delude  himself  into  a  conceit  of  his  excellence,  but  he  cannot  pro- 
duce a  conviction  of  the  knowledge  of  salvation  in  his  own  mind,  that  will  carry 
with  it  the  consolations  peculiar  to  a  saved  state.  A  partisan  may  be  enthusi- 
astically happy,  a  sinner  daringly  confident,  and  the  arrogant  pretender  may  be 
self-complacent  and  assured ;  but  none  can  be  positively  certified,  in  the  evan- 
gelical sense,  of  the  soundness  of  his  hopes  and  joys,  until  God  seals  him  with 
the  Holy  Spirit  of  pi'omise. 

Competent  evidence  of  a  saved  state  must  be  a  witness  possessing  these  in- 
disputable attributes ;  that  is  to  say,  supernatural,  peculiar  to  Christianity,  and 


192  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL    CAMP-MEETING. 

adapted  to  every  condition.  Pardon  is  an  act  of  the  Divine  mind.  How  can 
this  be  known,  except  by  a  direct  revelation  from  God  to  the  heart.  If  the  wit- 
ness be  something  possessed  in  common  by  saints  and  sinners,  it  would  be  im- 
possible to  distinguish  between  a  hilarious  sinner,  and  a  triumphant  Christian. 
The  speaker  illustrated  this  point,  by  a  prodigal  child  receiving  equal  favor 
with  the  other  children.  He  can  only  know  the  truth  of  his  relation  by  some 
special,  discriminating  act.  So  we  must  receive  a  token  of  favor  altogether  ex- 
traordinay,  a  recognition  of  sonship  limited  to  Christians,  and  hidden  from  the 
world. 

The  witness  must  be  adapted  to  every  order,  intellect,  and  diversity  of  condi- 
tion. It  must  carry  conviction  alike  to  the  strongest  and  weakest  intellect,  to 
the  darkest  heart,  and  rudest  specimen  of  human  kind.  Any  other  witness, 
would  be  a  class  monoply,  make  God  a  respecter  of  persons,  and  show  a  serious 
defeat  in  the  redemptive  plan. 

Is  such  a  witness  the  privilege  of  believers,  and  does  it  enter  as  an  element 
into  Christian  experience  ?  Let  us  examine  :  Is  it  possible  ?  It  must  be  that 
he  who  made  the  mind  and  renews  it,  can  communicate  truth  to  its  perceptions. 
What  philosophical  objection  can  there  be  to  the  hypothesis  that  God  can,  and 
does  correspond  directly  with  the  heart?  Such  a  witness  is  probable.  Is  it 
consistent  with  our  ideas  of  God  that  he  will  dispense  pardon,  and  yet  do  it  se- 
cretly, that  he  may  keep  the  justified  man  under  a  false  sense  of  condemnation? 
Can  the  stream  become  sweeter  than  the  source  ? 

Such  a  witness  is  necessary  to  justify  the  representations  of  Scripture  touch- 
ing the  magnitude  and  perceptibility  of  the  change  wrought  in  conversion.  Is 
Christian  life  a  dream,  an  oblivion,  a  state  of  insensibility?  Does  conversion  so 
paralyze  perception,  abolish  consciousness,  and  dethrone  judgment  that  we  can- 
not discriminate  between  life  and  death. 

Finally,  such  a  witness  is  certain,  because  it  is  promised  of  God,  and  actual- 
ized in  the  experiences  of  Christians,  according  to  the  Scriptures. 

It  is  not  a  blind,  unknowing  feeling  that  something  delightful  has  trans- 
pired in  the  department  of  our  emotions,  but  a  discriminating  knowledge  of  the 
quality  and  origin  of  the  work  done  and  blessing  bestowed.  It  involves  a  new 
faculty  of  discernment.  The  Christian's  ken  penetrates  where  the  purblind 
sinner  can  have  no  insight.  He  can  detect  a  diamond,  or  pearl  of  great  price, 
where  the  unbeliever  sees  nothing  but  mud. 

In  the  acquisition  of  a  knowledge  of  salvation  there  are  three  degrees :  first, 
a  change ;  second,  a  witness  of  the  Spirit ;  third,  the  confirmatory  testimonies 
relating  to  the  genuineness  of  the  work,  and  the  credibility  of  the  supposed 
witness  of  the  Spirit.     These  are  blended  together  as  the  colors  in  the  rainbow. 

The  assurance  is  like  a  beam  of  morning  light  peering  in  at  our  window, 
greeting  our  waking  eyes,  making  our  surroundings  visible.  Evangelical  truth 
and  divine  services  become  sweet,  grateful  and  festive  to  the  moral  desires,  like 
the  finest  of  the  wheat  and  honey  from  the  rock  to  the  appetite. 

The  second  degree  in  the  acquisition  of  this  knowledge  is  the  witness  of  the 
Spirit.  His  work  is  twofold — to  do,  and  to  tell  of  doing.  He  supplements 
the  assurance  with  his  own  internal  offices.  He  locates  himself  in  the  heart 
as  an  abiding  Comforter;  He  holds  communion  with  the  soul,  keeps  it  in 
peace,  replenishes  with  strength,  sheds  the  love  of  God  abroad  therein,  and 
carries  on  the  work  of  refinement  and  holy  culture  without  limit,  as  it  is  writ- 
ten, "He  shall  give  you  another  Comforter,"  &c.   These  fruits  of  the  Spirit  are 


A    MODERN   PENTECOST.  193 

not  indigenous  to  the  soul.  They  are  exotics — importations ;  not  a  wild,  casual 
growth,  but  the  product  of  design  and  culture. 

But  how  are  we  to  know  that  this  supposed  knowledge  of  salvation  is  not 
a  conceit,  a  fictitious  belief,  a  delusion?  This  problem  is  solved  by  our  mutual 
state  and  the  character  of  our  external  conduct.  It  is  by  this  we  test  the 
genuineness  of  the  work  and  the  validity  of  the  supposed  witness. 

The  mind  is  so  constituted  that  it  takes  cognizance  of  its  own  operations. 
I  can  determine  with  absolute  certainty  whether  my  tastes  are  pure  or  vitiated ; 
whether  my  feelings  are  exalted  or  groveling ;  whether  my  affections  are  refined 
or  debased;  whether  my  motives  are  righteous  or  wicked.  When,  therefore, 
I  am  conscious  of  an  entire  reversal  of  my  sordid  affections  and  propensities, 
and  the  Divine  Spirit  whispers,  this  is  salvation,  then  my  new  exalted  feelings, 
tastes,  affections  and  motives  rise  up  like  so  many  unimpeachable  witnesses,  to 
establish  the  credibility  of  the  testimony.  Nothing  spurious  ever  iucoi-porates 
into  itself  elevating  forces  and  love  of  sanctity.  Pure  Christianity  alone  antago- 
nizes all  sin.  When  my  tastes,  therefore,  crave  purity  and  loathe  impurity,  I 
know  I  am  saved.  "Hereby  know  we  that  we  dwell  in  Him,  and  He  in  us, 
because  He  hath  given  us  of  His  Spirit."  Another  test  is  external  conformity 
to  the  law  of  God,  not  because  it  is  an  obligation,  but  because  it  is  a  pleasure. 
You  may  always  tell  a  spirit  by  its  element.  The  Christian  does  not  find  his 
element  in  the  sinks  and  sewers  of  iniquity,  and  the  sinner  does  not  find  his 
element  in  the  sanctuaries  and  services  of  the  Lord.  By  these  supernatural 
and  yet  rational  evidences  the  Christian  is  settled  in  the  belief  that  he  is  saved ; 
and  so  long  as  he  remains  faithful,  the  witness  continues  fixed  and  bright,  like 
the  stars  of  heaven,  that  shine  on  and  on  with  undimned  lustre  through  the 
ages. 

What  are  the  unfoldings  of  philosophy,  the  discoveries  of  science,  or  the 
results  of  travel  and  research,  when  placed  in  competition  with  the  certitude  of 
a  present  redemption  ;  a  sensibility  of  the  fact ;  faith  made  fast  in  the  wounds 
of  the  crucified ;  and  a  hope  which  couples  the  soul  with  immortality.  Such 
knowledge  is  the  candle  of  the  Lord,  lit  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  to  illume  the 
midnight  of  man's  condition. 


WEDNESDAY  AFTERNOON,  JULY  30. 

SERMON  BY  REV.  F.  HODGSON,  D.  D. 


^^  And  she  shall  bring  forth  a  son,  and  thou  shall  call  his  name  '[fesus,  for 
he  shall  save  his  people  from  their  sins.'' '' — Matt,  i :  21. 

I  suppose  it  is  impossible  for  anyone  to  read  the  Scriptures  without  no- 
ticing the  very  conspicuous  place  assigned  to  the  Messiah.  He  is  repre- 
sented as  the  Angel  of  the  Covenant,  of  the  Old  Testament,  who  gave  the 
law  from  Sinai,  and  led  the  children  of  Israel  through  the  wilderness  to 
the  promised  land. 

13 


194  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

It  was  part  of  the  plan  of  human  redemption  that  the  Son  of  God  should 
become  incarnate.  His  coming  was  predicted  by,^the  prophets,  by  Moses, 
Isaiah,  and  others.  The  latest  prediction  of  his  coming  was  by  the  an- 
gel's announcement  in  the  text,  who  not  only  declares  that  the  proper 
time  had  come  for  the  fulfillment  of  the  prophecy  concerning  him,  but 
dictates  the  name  he  sljall  bear :  "  Thou  shalt  call  his  name  Jesus,  for  he 
shall  save  his  people  from  their  sins."  This  is  its  origin — not  of  the  name, 
for  that  had  been  given  before,  but  of  its  application  to  him. 

The  names  of  Scripture  are  usually — if  not  invariably — significant  of 
something,  of  some  event  or  attribute ;  and  this  is  particularly  the  case 
with  the  names  of  Deity.  This  is  true  of  the  names  of  the  Son.  He  is 
called  Immanuel,  God  with  us;  Christ  the  annointed  of  God;  Jesus;  Sa- 
viour. We  see  in  the  text  we  have  not  only  the  name  given,  but  the  rea- 
son for  it,  and  that  a  very  special  reason,  namely,  that  he  is  called  Jesus, 
because  he  saves  his  people  from  their  sins. 

I  propose  to  make  some  remarks  upon  the  salvation  which  he  has  come 
to  effect.  I  have  no  thought  of  presenting  anything  new,  or  in  a  new  way. 
I  have,  of  late,  been  led  to  reflect  upon  the  preachers  and  preaching  of  the 
olden  time,  and  shall  follow  the  old  method  the  rather,  in  this  discussion. 
I  shall  call  attention,  first,  to  the  salvation  of  the  text ;  and  secondly,  to 
the  way  in  which  Jesus  saves  his  people. 

I.    IVe  shall  consider  the  salvation  under  several  familiar  distinctions. 

1.  The  salvation  of  the  text  is  salvation  from  the  guilt  of  sin.  You  may 
say  this  is  common-place  enough  :  but  if  it  were  taken  out  of  our  doctrine, 
what  should  we  do  ?  Should  any  one  of  you  be  charged  with  a  criminal 
act  against  the  law  of  the  land,  O  how  eager  you  would  be  to  employ  the 
best  counsel.  If,  upon  the  trial  you  should  be  convicted,  how  glad  you 
would  be  for  the  pardon  of  the  executive  to  be  extended  to  you.  Is  it  too 
much  to  say  that  this  is  nothing,  as  against  the  conviction  of  the  soul  for 
sin,  when  the  sentence  is  suspended  from  execution  by  the  pardon  of  God 
in  this  salvation  ?. 

2.  It  is  salvation  from  the  power  and  control  of  sin.  We  transgress 
against  the  law  of  God  because  we  choose  to  do  it,  but  when  our  viola- 
tions of  God's  laws  are  forgiven,  though  there  may  be  no  desire  to  com- 
mit sin,  there  may  still  be  the  tendency  to  depart  from  God  ;  hence,  the 
apostle  Paul  draws  a  distinction  between  sin  dwelling  in  us,  and  sin  com- 
mitted by  us.  "  If  the  tree  be  good,  the  fruit  is  good  ;  if  bad,  the  fruit 
is  bad."  The  Saviour  told  the  Pharisees  that  it  was  not  so  much  what  a 
man  was  outside,  but  what  he  was  from  within,  that  made  the  character 
of  the  life  ;  and  that  "  Out  of  the  heart  proceed  evil  thoughts,  adulteries, 
murders,  thefts,  false  witness  and  blasphemy."  God  must  overcome  the 
tyrant  that  occupies  the  citadel  of  the  heart.  There  is  a  deep  theological 
truth  in  the  line — "  He  breaks  the  power  of  canceled  sin." 

3.  It  is  a  salvation  from  the  very  presence  of  sin  in  the  heart.  If  the 
Bible  said  nothing  about  this,  if  its  testimony  was  neither  for  nor  against 
the  destruction  of  sin  out  of  the  heart  by  the  salvation  of  God,  what 
would  be  our  reasoning  on  the  subject?  We  would  say,  if  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  is  manifested  to  take  away  sin,  then  it  is  fair  to  presume  that  its 
presence,  as  well  as  its  power  and  guilt,  must  be  removed  by  the  atone- 
ment which  he  hath  made. 


A   MODERN  PENTECOST.  195 

But,  are  we  not  left  to  the  indications  of  reason,  for  "  The  grace  of  God 
which  bringeth  salvation,  hath  appeared  to  all  men,  teaching  us  that,  de- 
nying ungodliness  and  worldly  lusts,  we  should  live  soberly,  righteously, 
and  godly,  in  this  present  world :  looking  for  that  blessed  hope,  and  the 
glorious  appearing  of  the  great  God,  and  our  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ,  who  gave 
himself  for  us,  that  he  might  redeem  us  from  all  iniquity,  and  purify  unto 
himself  a  peculiar  people,  zealous  of  good  works." 

The  great  plan  of  salvation,  whether  considered  in  its  spirit,  or  sym- 
bols, is  intended  to  make  men  holy.  If  God  cannot  do  this,  then  the 
foundations  on  which  the  whole  structure  is  builded  crumbles  under  my 
feet.  In  accordance  with  this  idea  the  apostle  sweetly  prays  :  "  And  the 
very  God  of  peace  sanctify  you  wholly,  and  I  pray  God  that  your  whole 
soul,  and  body,  and  spirit,  be  preserved  blameless  unto  the  coming  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.      Faithful  is  he  that  calleth  you,  who  also  will  do  it." 

4.  It  is  a  salvation  from  the  consequences  of  sin — not  from  all  the  con- 
sequences— certainly  from  the  penal  consequences.  There  are  some  con- 
ditions of  things  that  the  grace  of  God  will  not  save  the  sinner  from.  A 
man  may,  in  his  youth,  be  profligate,  and  his  errors  may  involve  his  health 
so  as  to  destroy  it ;  he  may  squander  his  patrimony ;  does  he  recover  his 
lost  health,  or  does  salvation  bring  back  into  his  hands  the  estate  which 
his  wickedness  has  bartered  away  ?  There  are  forms  of  sin  which  do 
special  damage  to  the  reputation.  The  victim  of  his  vile  passion  whose 
name  he  has  blasted  does  not  have  her  character  restored,  nor  her  reputa- 
tion secured  from  the  ruin  he  has  caused,  by  his  repentance  and  salvation. 
These  acts  are  embarrassments  upon  his  plans :  wherever  he  goes  he  is 
pointed  at,  as  resting  under  suspicion.  He  must  submit  to  long  forbear- 
ance and  patient  endurance,  to  rejection  on  the  one  hand,  and  suspicion 
on  the  other;  but,  by  a  consistent  course  of  conduct^  he  may,  after  a  long 
time  of  trial,  wipe  aAvay  the  stain  that  he  has  brought  upon  himself. 
Nevertheless,  his  deeds  go  with  him  wherever  he  goes.  Can  he,  by  the 
possession  of  grace  in  the  heart,  bring  up  from  their  bed  in  perdition, 
those  young  men  whose  lives  his  evil  influence  has  ruined  !  It  may  be 
that  he  brought  the  gray  hairs  of  his  father  or  mother  down  with  sorrow 
to  the  grave  :  will  repenting  over  their  cold  graves  bring  them  back  to 
him  again  ?  So  the  backslider,  who  has  gone  away  from  God ;  can  he 
bring  himself  back  to  his  former  position  as  a  consistent  member  of  the 
body  of  Christ  ?  Although  God  will  give  deliverance  from  the  penal  con- 
sequences of  sin,  he  never  will  give  back  the  powers  that  have  been  lost 
by  the  destruction  of  natural  forces  or  character. 

Of  this  Ave  are  assured,  that  if  we  accept  the  salvation  of  Christ,  it  will 
deliver  us  from  the  guilt  of  sin,  from  its  power  and  control,  so  that  it  shall 
not  reign  in  our  bodies ;  from  its  presence  in  the  heart,  so  that  all  evil 
shall  be  banished  from  our  nature ;  and  from  its  consequences — deliver- 
ance from  hell,  from  the  grave  by  the  resurrection  of  the  body,  and  ad- 
mission at  last  to  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 

II.     How  is  this  to  be  done  ? 

I.  Mainly  by  the  atonement  which  delivers  us  from  under  the  curse  of 
the  Adamic  law.  But  if  God  should  bring  us  out  from  under  the  Adamic 
law,  and  make  no  provision  for  satisfying  the  demands  of  that  law,  would 
it  not  be  a  reflection  on  him  ?     Hence  the  atonement  is  a  vindication  of 


196  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL    CAMP-MEETING. 

that  law,  and  puts  before  us  a  condition  in  which  God  may  be  just,  and 
yet  the  justifier  of  him  that  believeth.  I  will  illustrate  this  subject  so 
that  you  may  observe  its  connection  with  regard  to  the  Christian  doctrine 
of  salvation.     First :     In  regard  to  our  pardon. 

Suppose  you  or  I  were  convicted  of  murder.  We  may  hope  for  i)ar- 
don  ;  but  in  the  absence  of  any  provision  for  the  same  that  will  honora- 
bly meet  our  case,  would  we  pronounce  the  Governor  who  signs  the  death 
warrant,  a  man  who  delights  in  blood  ?  Is  that  the  apprehension  ?  Now 
just  here  is  the  difficulty.  If  he  pardons  me,  he  might  as  well  pardon 
every  other  person.  I  am  just  as  guilty,  and  am  no  more  entitled  to  his 
clemency.  Now  suppose  some  friend  interposes,  and  upon  examining  the 
case  it  is  ascertained  that  the  provisions  of  the  law  will,  under  certain 
conditions,  be  just  as  fully  met  by  my  pardon  as  by  my  execution.  The 
friend  tells  me  :  I  saw  the  Governor  in  your  case,  and  by  compliance 
with  certain  conditions  made  in  pursuance  of  the  law  he  will  pardon.  I 
say,  is  the  Governor  good  enough  to  grant  me  the  benefit  of  those  con- 
ditions?    Then  I  will  accept  them  with  all  my  heart. 

The  greatest  interests  of  the  divine  government  are  all  met  by  the  pro- 
vision of  Jesus  Christ  in  his  atonement.  By  the  shedding  of  blood  there 
is  remission.  I  want  to  accept  it — for  the  law  is  magnified  ;  and  I  am 
not  only  pardoned,  but  absolved.  There's  the  breaking  of  the  power  of 
canceled  sin. 

If  God  should  pardon  a  man  for  the  sake  of  the  atonement  of  Jesus 
Christ,  we  should  feel  that  the  Church  is  obliged  to  open  its  doors  and 
take  him  in  ;  and  no  one  so  pardoned  can  by  any  right  interpretation  of 
the  law  of  God's  government,  be  excluded  from  such  communion.  There 
is  in  the  precious  doctrine  of  the  atonement  provision  for  this  entrance 
into  the  society  of  the  believers,  and  elevation  to  sonship  with  God  and 
heirship  with  Christ.  There  is  that  which  tends  to  change  the  sinner's 
■  heart ;  there  is  a  sanctifying  element  and  a  tendency  to  appropriate  the 
blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  which  cleanseth  from  all  sin. 

This  is  done  again  by  the  Holy  Spirit.  It  is  the  Spirit's  office  and  pre- 
rogative to  change  the  heart  of  man,  to  renew  him  in  the  image  of  Christ. 
This  is  clearly  taught  in  the  Word.  "  The  wind  bloweth  where  it  listeth, 
and  ye  hear  the  sound  thereof,  but  cannot  tell  whence  it  cometh  nor  wither 
it  goeth  :  so  is  every  one  that  is  born  of  the  Spirit."  The  Spirit  is  the 
immediate  cause  of  our  justification  and  sanctification.  This  is  done  in 
part  by  the  truth- •"  sanctify  them  through  thy  truth;"  but  to  accom- 
jjlish  the  result,  there  must  be  the  direct  influence  of  the  Holy  Ghost  on 
the  understanding  and  heart. 

Here  a  question  may  arise  :  If  the  Holy  Ghost  is  the  direct  agent  of 
our  sanctification,  why  do  you  attribute  it  to  the  blood  of  Christ  ?  I 
answer  the  blood  is  the  cleansing  agent.  "If  we  walk  in  the  light  as  he 
is  in  the  light,  we  have  fellowship  one  with  another;  and  the  blood  of 
Jesus  Christ  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin." 

While  some  persons  have  a  clear  evidence  of  their  acceptance,  all  do 
not.  Some  are  very  clear  at  first,  others  not  so  ;  yet  they  could  say,  "  I 
know  that  I  have  passed  from  death  unto  life."  I  was  brought  out  of 
darkness  into  light ;  but  not  first  into  midday.  Have  you  a  clear  evi- 
dence of  your  acceptance  with  God  ?     God  prepares  you  for  a  deeper 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  197 

work  of  purity  by  throwing  light  on  your  defects.  Are  you  in  a  very 
high  state  of  grace  but  still  without  the  fullness  of  the  love  of  Christ  ? 
Will  you  say  you  cannot  get  the  blessing  of  holiness  here  before  you  are 
instructed  by  the  light  of  the  Holy  Spirit  through  the  Word?  Let  us  take 
a  view  of  the  matter  :  You  come  to  the  Word  and  to  the  Holy  Ghost. 
But  the  Holy  Ghost  would  say  :  I  can  do  nothing  without  the  blood.  No 
wonder  that  now  you  triumph.  When  the  light  is  given  to  see  the  stain 
of  sin,  and  you  by  applying  to  the  blood  are  cleansed,  the  Spirit  behold- 
ing it,  says  the  blood  is  on  that  spot.  We  need,  therefore,  have  no  diffi- 
culty. 

Now  let  us  in  conclusion  offer  a  few  reflections ;  and  ist.  We  are  per- 
mitted to  see  in  this  subject  the  power  of  names.  Suppose  an  American 
citizen  is  away  from  his  home  in  the  midst  of  a  strange  nation  ;  the  very 
mention  of  his  nationality  is  a  passport  to  his  protection.  There  is  no 
name  like  that  of  Jesus.  Whence  is  this  ?  Separate  it  from  its  associa- 
tions, and  it  is  no  more  than  any  other  name.  It  is  not  because  of  its 
euphony,  for  many  names  sound  as  well  to  the  ear.  Nor  is  it  because 
Jesus  means  Saviour,  simply.  This  is  not  sufficient ;  Joshua  means  that. 
There  have  been  a  great  many  saviours.  Washington  was  the  saviour  of 
his  country,  and  his  name  is  held  sacred  in  the  memory  of  the  people  ; 
but  the  name  of  Jesus  towers  above  them  all. 

Here  then  is  the  solution.  His  name  is  the  greatest  name  that  ever 
was  spoken,  because  he  saves  his  people  from  their  sins.  None  of  the 
saviours  we  have  mentioned  could  do  this  ;  but  he  can  and  does,  and  the 
power  of  his  name  is  celebrated  in  sacred  song.  "  Our  prophet,  priest, 
and  King."  How  then  should  we  venerate  his  holy  name?  Profane  it 
not ;  revere  it,  utter  it  with  the  utmost  respect.     Believe  and  be  saved. 


At  the  conclusion  of  Dr.  Hodgson's  sermon,  Rev.  J.  E.  Searles  took 
charge  of  the  meeting.  He  adverted  to  the  theme  of  the  hour,  and,  in  illus- 
tration of  the  power  of  prayer,  told  the  following  story  of  a  wounded  boy, 
which  occurred  during  the  late  civil  war :  He  was  found  asleep  at  his  post 
by  the  officer  of  the  day,  and,  being  reported,  was  court-martialed;  and, 
according  to  military  law,  was  sentenced  to  be  shot.  The  sad  tidings  reach- 
ing his  mother's  ears,  she  at  once  sought  a  change  of  the  sentence  and  the 
discharge  of  her  boy.  She  made  her  way  to  the  President's  house,  persist- 
ently pressed  down  all  opposition,  until  at  last  she  got  an  audience  with  Mr. 
Lincoln.  She  fell  at  his  feet,  made  known  her  petition,  and  pleaded  for  the 
life  of  her  son.  The  plea  prevailed,  and  the  President  sent  a  relay  of 
soldiers  and  a  pardon  for  her  son,  restoring  him,  exonerated,  to  his  mother. 
The  son  was  told  that  he  was  free — that  he  could  go  home.  He  said,  "  No! 
I'll  stay  and  show  my  gratitude  to  Mr.  Lincoln  and  my  country  for  giving 
me  back  my  forfeited  life." 

Oh,  mothers,  pray  for  your  sons  and  daughters,  and  present  your  plea  in 
the  name  of  Jesus  ! 


198  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

Sinners  were  then  invited  forward,  and  quite  a  number  responded  to  the 
invitation,  and  presented  themselves  at  the  altar.  Seekers  for  full  salvation, 
responding  to  the  invitation,  followed  on,  and  kneeling,  asked  for  pure 
hearts  and  the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 


AT  HALF-PAST  OXE 

The  usual  services  were  held  in  the  Landisville  pavilion,  led  by  Rev.  L.  R. 
Dunn.  There  was  great  Uberty  in  prayer,  heartiness  in  singing  and  holy 
unction  in  experience. 

Among  others.  Rev.  I.  M.  See  said :  "  I  want  to  testify,  because  I  am  a 
Presbyterian  by  name" — here  pausing  a  moment,  Brother  Dunn  finished  the 
sentence  by  adding — "And  a  Methodist  in  fact."  ''I  don't  care,"  Dr.  See 
resumed,  "  what  you  call  me,  but  I  do  care  what  you  call  this  blessed  expe- 
rience. I  do  not  like  to  see  people  ashamed  to  call  this  blessing  by  its 
proper  name.  I  was  twelve  years  in  the  ministry  without  this  full  salvation 
— living,  indeed,  a  life  of  prayer,  and  so  burdened  with  my  many  sins  and 
failures,  that  I  was  pleading  constantly  that  God  might  fulfill  his  promise, 
and  give  me  deliverance.  He  sent  heavy  affliction  on  me.  I  sank  down — 
down — into  the  depths  of  despair.  But  one  name  used  to  comfort  me.  It 
was  the  name  of  Jesus.  In  that  condition  I  made  such  a  consecration  as  I 
never  made  before.  In  looking  about  me,  I  found  I  had  loved  my  wife  more 
than  God.  I  had  to  consecrate  that  wife,  and,  as  Brother  Earl  said,  attend 
my  wife's  funeral  before  the  time.  I  had  to  give  up  Willie  and  Eddie  and 
Mamie,  and  I  gave  Him  all.  I  had  been  afraid  my  health  of  body  would 
fail;  but  now  I  gave  my  body  to  God.  The  future  used  to  .trouble  me,  but 
I  gave  that  up.  It  seemed  so  strange  that  I.  M.  See  was  to  have  no  more 
anxiety.  I  have  sweet  songs  in  the  night.  I  used  to  have  long  winters  and 
short  summers.  Now  I  live  in  the  tropics,  and  have  no  winter  at  all,  but 
the  fruits  of  the  goodly  land  continually.  There  is,  indeed,  a  rest  to  the 
people  of  God — a  perpetual  Sabbath-day  keeping.  Like  one  of  old,  I  take 
the  word  of  God  and  eat  it." 

Brother  Bell,  a  missionary  from  Water  street.  New  York,  said  he  had 
much  to  be  forgiven,  and  consequ-ently  loved  much.  "You  can  hardly 
realize  how  deeply  I  was  sunken  in  sin.  My  being  here  is  an  evidence  that 
the  salvation  of  Christ  Josus  is  equal  to  any  case  or  condition.  I  live  my 
religion  at  home.  I  would  not  give  two  straws  for  a  religion  that  did  not 
make  home  sweet,  and  show  itself  in  the  treatment  of  the  very  dog  and  cat, 
as  Rowland  Hill  used  to  say.  I  cannot  say  that  I  like  to  hear  anybody  call 
this  world  a  'waste,  howling  wilderness.'  It  is  the  best  and  sweetest  world 
that  I  ever  lived  in,  and  I  want  to  stay  in  it  a  long  time  yet.     I  am  saved 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  199 

from  fastidiousness  and  partiality.  At  our  mission  we  have  men  with  red 
shirts  and  with  none,  but  I  bid  them  all  welcome;  and  if  there  is  a  million- 
aire present,  I  ask  him  to  stand  aside  and  give  this  poor  man  a  seat.  My 
voice  is  sanctified  to  God.  At  the  midnight  hour  I  go  through  the  Fourth 
Ward  in  New  York  city,  and  sing  of  Jesus  and  his  love  in  places  where 
others  would  hardly  show  their  heads,  and  God  melts  these  hard  hearts.  I 
cultivate  a  cheerful  disposition.  To  the  wretched  burglar  I  say,  '  Look  and 
live;'  to  Mary  Magdalene,  'Look  and  live;'  to  the  murderer,  'Look  and 
live.'     And  they  do  look,  blessed  be  God;  and  they  find  salvation." 

The  emotions  awakened  by  this  brother's  talk  we  cannot  attempt  to 
describe. 

Rev.  A.  Atwood  exclaimed,  "  I  am  glad  I  have  lived  to  see  this  day !  I 
used  to  look  about  in  my  anxiety  and  say,  '  0  Lord,  what  will  become  of  the 
Church?'  Now,  this  National  Camp-meeting  is  doing  such  a  work  that  the 
love  of  spirituality  is  rising  more  in  one  year  than  in  seven  formerly.  This 
full  salvation  makes  me  so  happy  in  my  home.  When  I  sit  down  at  the 
table  with  my  wife,  I  look  around  and  say,  '  I  never  saw  such  a  pleasant 
place  as  this.     Do  you  suppose  there  is  any  one  else  as  happy  as  we  are?'  " 

Singing— 

"  All  glory  to  the  dying  Lamb. 

I  now  believe  in  Jesus ;  ^ 

I  love  the  blessed  Saviour's  name, 

Hove  the  name  of  Jesus. 
Sweetest  note  in  seraph's  song, 
Sweetest  name  on  mortal  tongue, 
^weetest  carol  ever  suug, 

Jesus,  Jesus,  Jesus." 


THE  MINISTERS'  MEETING. 

At  6  P.M.  Rev.  J.  E.  Searles  took  charge,  and  Brother  See  invoked  the 
presence  and  refining  fire  of  the  Holy  Ghost  on  the  kneeling  company. 

Brother  Searles  then  remarked:  "There  are  three  things  that  we  want. 
We  need  knowledge,  purity  and  love.  This  is  an  excellent  trinity."  Refer- 
ring to  his  own  experience,  he  said,  "  I  was  truly  converted,  and  learned  to 
set  the  Lord  always  before  me.  I  lived  in  his  fear,  and  prayed  in  my  closet 
by  the  hour  for  grace  to  overcome  the  risings  of  sin  in  my  soul.  Yet  I  had 
no  other  idea  than  that  I  must  always  remain  so.  But  when  I  went  to  Cali- 
fornia with  the  National  Association,  under  this  Tabernacle  I  had  a  mighty 
struggle.  It  lasted  day  after  day.  I  had  argued  against  this  second  blessing 
in  the  Preachers'  Meetings.  Now,  could  I  go  back  on  myself,  and  give  up 
all  my  objections?  I  shall  never  forget  the  way  Bro.  Inskip  took  me  in 
hand.  With  a  voice  as  sweet  and  tender  as  a  mother's,  he  said,  'Come,  let 
us  all  go  into  the  pool  together.'     Then  he  inquired,  '  Do  you  now  believe 


200  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL    CAMP-MEETING. 

that  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  his  Son  cleanseth  from  all  sin  ? — cleanseth 
me?  I  could  hardly  venture  to  say  this;  but,  reverently  I  rested  on  the 
promise  of  God.  I  was  afraid  of  working  up  my  feelings,  and  that  the  im- 
pression would  die  away;  but,  on  the  6th  of  May  two  years  ago,  I  was  con- 
scious of  being  filled  with  God  and  heaven.  I  said  to  my  wife,  '  I  do  believe 
I  am  thoroughly  sanctified.'  I  had  been  one  of  the  timid  ones,  but  this  has 
made  me  bold  in  witnessing  and  working  for  Christ." 

A  Baltimore  minister  said  he  had  been  again  and  again  baptized  with  the 
Spirit,  but  Satan  would  always  be  ready  to  whisper,  "  Now,  look  out ;  you 
know  how  liable  you  are  to  fall  into  sin.  If  you  make  a  loud  profession,  and 
do  not  live  up  to  it.  you  will  bring  disgrace  upon  the  cause  you  love  so  well; 
keep  quiet."  Thus  he  failed  to  confess  distinctively  this  sanctifying  grace, 
and  lost  it.  "I  came  here,*'  he  continued,  "to  obtain  such  a  blessing  as 
would  settle  and  fix  my  wavering  soul  forever.  Last  night  I  wandered  ofi" 
into  the  woods,  and  at  the  foot  of  a  large  tree  I  knelt  and  prayed  that  God 
would  fully  save  me,  and  take  the  roots  of  sin  out  of  my  nature.  The  Divine 
Spirit  was  poured  out,  and  I  was  unusually  blessed.  I  am  not  yet  satisfied. 
I  want  thorough  cleansing  and  clear  experience." 

Brother  McFarlane,  of  Yonkers,  N.  Y.,  said  he  had  contented  himself 
since  he  came  on  the  ground  with  listening  and  drinking  in  the  sweet  joys 
which  abounded  here  at  every  service.  The  place  he  lived  in  he  named 
"  Sweet  Home,"  as  a  memorial  of  what  God  had  done  for  him.  Jesus  occu- 
pied the  guest-chamber,  and  was  always  present  at  the  sweef  hour  of  fivmily 
prayer,  and  when  his  dear  name  was  celebrated  in  song.  He  had  precious 
rest  of  soul. 

Brother  Foote,  alluding  to  the  cases  of  our  brothers  Barker  and  BeJl,  both 
of  whom  were  amazing  monuments  of  Divine  mercy,  in  being  brought  up  out 
of  a  horrible  pit,  said  he  had  more  reason  than  either  of  them  to  be  thankful 
to  God  for  the  way  in  which  he  had  been  led  and  kept.  "God,"  said  he, 
"  saw  such  a  germ  of  wickedness  in  me,  that,  to  prevent  its  development,  and 
all  the  harm  it  would  have  done,  he  was  pleased  that  I  should  be  born  of  a 
Christian  mother,  and  converted  at  an  early  period  of  my  life.  He  saw  what 
depths  of  iniquity  I  was  capable  of  reaching,  and  prevented  it.  Glory  to  his 
name !  I  was  sanctified  early  in  my  ministry,  and  this  was  an  incalculable 
blessing.     Oh,  let  me  exhort  young  ministers  to  get  this  blessing !" 

"All  ministers,"  said  Brother  McDonald,  "whether  young  or  old,  should 
have  it — and  may  have  it  now,  if  they  desire  it,  and  exercise  faith." 

In  this  meeting,  Rev.  Dr.  Levy,  in  relating  his  experience  said  :  "  I  de- 
nounced this  doctrine,  which  I  now  uphold.  I  was  more  excusable  than  you 
Methodist  brethren,  because  I  did  it  in  ignorance, 

"  A  sister  in  my  congregation  professed  sanctification,  and  I  took  occasion 
to  tell  her  that  I  thought  there  was  a  great  deal  more  consistency  in  living 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  201 

right  than  in  professing  so  much.  She  was  a  good  sister,  and  when  I  be- 
come convinced  of  my  error,  I  afc  once  thought  I  offended  her,  and  at  my  first 
.  opportunity  would  make  amends, 

"  The  '  sanctificationists '  as  we  called  them  were  beginning  to  make  a  stir 
among  us,  and  I  and  another  minister  agreed  to  open  our  batteries  simultane- 
ously against  the  dogma.  I  went  to  my  study  and  made  a  careful  preparation. 
There  was  a  deacon,  a  good  brother,  in  my  charge  with  whom  I  always  took 
tea  on  Saturday.  I  said  to  him  at  the  table,  'Dr.  Fish  and  I,  are  going  to 
preach  to-morrow  against  this  new  fangled  doctrine  of  sanctification.'  •  lie 
looked  grave  and  troubled,  and  at  last  said  solemnly,  '  I  think  any  minister 
has  mistaken  his  calling  when  he  preaches  against  anything  that  has  for  its 
only  object,  the  making  of  people  better.'  I  wilted  down  under  the  force  of 
that  logic.   When  I  went  home  I  burned  the  sermon,  and  never  preached  it. 

"  After  the  blessed  Lord  brought  me  into  the  enjoyment  of  this  sweet  ex- 
perience, I  met  the  dear  sister  of  whom  I  have  just  spoken,  and  I  said  to  her  : 
'  Sister  I  want  to  ask  your  forgiveness  for  my  cruelty  towards  you.'  She  did 
not  recall  it  until  I  told  her  the  circumstances;  and  when  I  finished  by  say- 
ing, I  am  now  wholly  the  Lord's,  we  had  a  gracious  time  of  congratulatioQ. 
Bless  the  Lord  I" 

Rev.  Dr.  Lowrey  said :  "  I  was  converted  in  1833,  received  the  clear  evi- 
dence of  adoption  in  1842,  and  the  evidence  of  sanctification  in  the  same 
way.  The  spirit  reported  the  fact  to  my  consciousness.  Jlethodist  preachers 
stand  in  very  intimate  relation  to  this  subject,  it  being  presented  to  them 
both  in  our  examinations  and  theological  training.  So  long  as  I  retained  my 
justified  state,  I  hungered  for  holiness.  I  read  Wesley's  Plain  Account  of 
Christian  Perfection,  I  was  committed  to  this  subject  before  I  was  ordained. 
Bishop  Morris,  questioning  me  before  the  Conference,  asked,  '  Are  you  going 
on  to  perfection?  Do  you  expect  to  be  made  perfect  in  love  in  this  life? 
Are  you  groaning  after  it  ?'  To  these  questions  I  answered  '  Yes.'  I  was  in 
the  habit  of  praying  and  fasting  then.  I  hungered  about  three  months  in 
this  way,  when  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  fully  saved  my  soul. 

"  I  made  two  mistakes.  When  I  was  converted,  I  did  not  confess  it  for 
more  than  about  two  years,  except  to  one  person.  I  therefore  lost  the  evi- 
dence of  my  conversion.  I  made  the  same  mistake  in  regard  to  sanctifica- 
tion. Several  years  ago  I  felt  that  this  would  not  do,  and  I  resolved  I  would 
find  my  lost  treasure.  I  did  like  the  woman  in  the  Gospel  who  was  in  search 
of  the  lost  piece  of  silver,  I  swept  the  house  and  continued  seeking  until  I 
found  it." 

Dr.  Hodgson  of  Central  Pennsylvania  Conference  stepped  forward  and 
said:  ''  I  came  here  not  to  see  my  friends,  though  I  am  in  the  midst  of  them. 
I  came  here  to  be  blessed  with  the  communication  of  the  divine  fullness.  I 
came  here  to  be  entirely  sanctified.     I  have  preached  this  old  Methodist  doc- 


202  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL    CAMP-MEETING. 

trine.  I  have  believed  it  with  all  my  heart ;  and  there  was  a  time  when  1 
would  have  fought  for  it.  Now  there  is  nothing  on  earth  I  so  much  desire, 
as  this  blessing.     Pray  for  me." 

Bro.  Osborne  here  stated,  that  under  a  mighty  sermon,  preached  by  Dr. 
Hodgson  at  Red  Lion,  Delaware,  he  was  convicted  and  led  to  the  Saviour. 
Scores  of  others  were  present,  who  had  been  thrilled  under  his  minibtry,  and 
the  general  prayer  was,  "  Lord,  bless  Dr.  Hodgson  I" 


EVENING  SERVICES. 

The  interest  was  so  absorbing  at  the  Preachers'  meeting,  that  it  required 
considerable  bell-ringing  to  call  the  people  who  lingered  in  the  Tabernacle, 
out  to  public  worship. 

The  grounds  were  beautifully  lighted.  A  clear,  starry  sky,  with  a  silvery 
moon  above,  lent  enchantment  to  the  scene.  During  the  day,  the  congrega- 
tions had  been  larger  than  usual,  many  strangers  having  arrived  to  stay  until 
the  close  of  the  meeting.  A  more  imposing  audience  than  that  before  which 
the  preacher  of  the  evening  stood  up  to  declare  a  message  from  God,  he  had 
probably  never  seen. 

The  preacher  was  our  stalwart  brother,  Rev.  Wm.  Bramwell  Osborn,  a  man 
who,  in  the  pine  forests  of  Cape  May  county,  N.  J.,  as  an  itinerant  preacher, 
first  became  exercised  about  a  "  deeper  work  of  grace,"  in  his  own  heart. 
His  native  energy  availed  him  to  the  extent  of  finding  ''  full  salvation."  He 
thereupon  began  to  labor  "  on  this  line  ;"  and  by  what  many  of  a  more  timid 
temperament  regarded  as  of  doubtful  propriety,  agitated  the  holding  of  a 
camp-meeting  for  the  express  purpose  of  promoting  gospel  holiness.  At  his 
instance,  the  first  National  camp-meeting  was  proposed  and  held,  the  Meth- 
odist Home  Journal,  of  Philadelphia,  becoming  an  early  and  serviceable 
ally  in  the  cause. 

He  is  also  responsible  for  another  vagary,  as  it  was  termed  at  its  incep- 
tion— the  founding  of  Ocean  Grove,  from  which  pleasant  retreat  he  was 
called  by  Episcopal  authority  to  assume  the  charge  of  a  section  of  the  work 
as  Presiding  Elder,  in  the  State  of  Florida.  Relieved  from  service  there, 
he  appeared  among  his  co-laborers  of  the  National  Association,  a  few  days 
previously,  and  now  it  came  his  turn  to  preach. 

Brother  Osborn  is  gifted  with  a  commanding  presence,  and  the  voice  of  a 
Stentor.  He  took  up  the  cry  of  the  Prophet  of  old,  when  addressing  the 
Church  (Isa.  57:  1,)  and  made  a  fearless  onslaught  on  the  sins  and  idolatries 
of  modern  times.  What  the  Church  of  God  ought  to  be — her  light  having 
come,  and  tlie  glory  of  the  Lord  having  risen  upon  her,  he  faithfully  por- 
trayed.    What  she  is,  worldly,  weak  and  inefficient,  he  had  ample  illustration 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  203 

at  hand  to  show.  He  spared  not.  The  exceeding  broad  requirement — to  be 
pure  and  holy — to  practice  charity,  self-denial  and  benevolence,  was  made 
apparent.  Men's  various  subterfuges,  and  women's  nonsensical  fashions  were 
exposed  with  indignant  remonstrance,  mingled  with  humor  and  satire,  and 
we  hardly  think  it  possible  one  sinner,  or  formal  professor,  escaped  a  scathing. 
His  own  experience,  intermingled  with  the  word  of  exhortation,  gave  pi- 
quancy to  the  occasion ;  and  as  he  pointed  to  the  mercy  seat  where  a  pardon- 
ing God  waits  to  receive  and  bless  the  penitent,  and  the  glorious  provision 
made  in  the  "  fountain  opened,"  the  congregation  were  ready  to  enter  into 
the  spirit  of  his  favorite  hymn  as  he  sang  — 

"0  bliss  of  the  purified,  bliss  of  the  free, 
I  plunge  in  the  crimson  tide  opened  for  me  ; 
O'er  sin  and  uncleanliness,  exulting  I  stand, 
Aud  point  to  the  print  of  the  nails  in  His  liand. 
0  sing  of  His  mighty  love, 
Sing  of  His  miglity  love, 
Sing  of  His  mighty  love, 
Mighty  to  save." 

This  sentiment  recalled  the  leading  theme  of  the  preceding  evening,  and 
again  all  who  had  hearts  to  feel,  and  a  voice  to  plead,  were  urged  to  go  out 
after  the  unconverted,  and  persuade  them  to  an  immediate  surrender  to  Christ 
the  Saviour. 

The  meeting  was  attended  with  marked  results  in  the  salvation  of  souls, 
and  up  to  the  hour  for  general  silence,  the  song  and  shout  of  the  newly  born 
of  Grod  sweetly  blended,  making  the  woods  vocal  with  heavenly  melody. 


THE  COLORED  PEOPLE'S  MEETING. 

An  event  of  the  evening  was  the  meeting  conducted  by  Sister  Smith  in 
the  large  board  tabernacle,  for  the  benefit  of  the  colored  people,  quite  a 
number  of  whom  were  in  attendance  as  waiters,  and  some  as  visitors  at  the 
encampment. 

At  the  very  opening  of  the  services  the  lively  and  impressible  nature  of 
this  class  began  to  exhibit  itself.  The  singing  was  so  full  of  soul-stirring 
power,  that  it  soon  attracted  a  large  crowd  of  white  spectators  aud  partici- 
pants. In  prayer  there  was  a  considerable  margin  of  eccentricity,  but  entirely 
characteristic  and  sincere. 

As  far  as  it  was  possible  or  prudent  to  do  si.  Sister  Smith  kept  her  congre- 
gation under  good  control,  walking  up  and  down  among  those  who  were 
kneeling  and  seeking  salvation.  Her  design  was  to  show  them  the  simple 
way  to  be  saved  by  faith,  and  to  testify  to  all,  from  her  own  past  experience, 
that  they  might  partake  of  the  water  flowing  out  of  the  smitten  rock  in  the 
desert,  which  rock  was  Christ. 


204  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MKETIXG. 

"This  pure  stream,"  she  said,  "would  give  them  new  life,  and  wash  all 
their  guilty  stains  away." 

"  The  fountain  lies  open, 
Tlie  fountain  lies  open, 
Thei-e  I'll  bathe  my  weary  soul." 

In  the  experience  given  there  was  a  quaint  pathos  and  tenderness  that 
touched  very  deeply  the  sympathies  of  their  white  brethren  and  sisters  look- 
ing on.  A  very  aged  woman  said  the  blessed  Lord  had  called  her  to  take 
up  the  cross  and  follow  him  seventy  years  ago;  and  he  had  been  her  friend 
ever  since,  and  was  better  to  her  now  than  ever  before.  "  The  land  was 
heaving  into  view,"  she  said,  and  she  was  "  waiting  for  the  chariot  of  Israel 
to  come  along  and  take  her  to  the  place  of  many  mansions." 

A  younger  person  rose  to  speak,  and  asked  all  to  pray  for  her  old  aunt, 
who  sat  there  without  any  hope  in  God.  She  wanted  to  see  her  converted 
then  and  there,  for  soon,  she  argued,  it  will  be  with  her  too  late,  and  the 
door  will  be  shut  forever. 

This  brought  all  to  their  knees,  and,  while  prayer  was  oifered,  the  aged 
aunt  professed  to  find  the  Lord,  and  many  others,  with  her,  were  powerfully 
blessed.     Then  was  sung — 

"  My  sins  are  washed  away 

In  the  blood  of  the  Lamb  ; 
My  sins  are  washed  awiiy 

In  the  blood  of  the  Lamb, 
Glory  to  the  Lamb,"  &c. 

Shouting,  with  these  humble  souls,  means  always  an  accompaniment  of 
clapping  of  hands  and  lively  bodily  exercise,  such  as  walking  and  leaping 
and  praising  God. 

It  was  near  midnight  when  these  demonstrations  entirely  ceased,  and,  to 
the  credit  of  the  authorities,  nobody  interfered  to  break  up  their  meeting  or 
enforce  the  rules  of  the  ground. 

Most  welcome  to  those  who  had  attended  camp-meetings  in  Maryland  and 
Virginia,  in  former  years:  was  the  sensation  of  falling  into  unconscious 
slumber,  with  the  full  chorus  of  a  happy  band  of  colored  people  sounding  in 
their  ears — 

"  llalleliijah  to  the  Lamb, 
Jesus  died  fur  every  man,"  &c. 

The  old  usage  was  to  let  them  have  the  last  part  of  the  night  service,  and 
begin  as  early  in  the  morning  as  they  pleased,  which  was  generally  at  the 
break  of  day.  Sinking  to  sleep,  therefore,  and  the  first  waking  moments, 
were  associated  with  these  pathetic,  and  often  expressive  and  beautiful 
melodies. 

It  is  said  of  the  excellent  Governor  Bassett,  of  Delaware,  that  he  always 
pitched  his  tent  as  near  to  that  part  of  the  ground  devoted  to  the  black 
people  as  he  could,  so  that  he  might  enjoy,  to  the  fullest  extent,  the  harmony 
and  deep  religious  sentiment  of  their  camp-meeting  songs;  and  he  never 
complained  if  they  sang  and  prayed  and  shouted  all  night. 


A   MODERN  PENTECOST.  205 

NINTH  DAY. 
THURSDAY  MORNINa. 

Reaching  this  point  in  the  narrative  of  the  proceedings,  we  are  admonish- 
ed that  the  matter  on  hand,  unless  abbreviated  to  some  considerable  extent, 
v?ill  exceed  the  limits  prescribed. 

Among  the  readers  of  these  pages  will  be  many  who  were  participants  in 
all  the  services  of  this,  the  last  great  day  of  the  feast.  Its  scenes,  doubtless, 
were  so  indelibly  fixed  on  their  memory,  that  they  will  readily  perceive  the 
omission,  where  we  pass  o'^r  thrilling  experiences,  and  present  only  an  ab- 
stract of  the  successive  services  of  the  day. 

A  more  lovely  morning  it  seemed,  never  dawned  on  the  world  than  this 
last  day  of  July,  1873.  So  deeply  were  the  people  imbued  with  the  spirit 
of  praise,  that  a  doxology  was  in  every  heart  and  on  every  tongue,  as  the 
opening  heavens  and  the  rising  sun,  called  them  once  more  to  devotion. 

Father  Coleman,  at  the  five  o'clock  service,  encouraged  all  to  expect  greater 
things.  Compared  with  the  soul-capacity  God  had  given  us,  and  the  bound- 
lessness of  his  power  to  fill  and  bless,  it  might  be  said  comparatively  :  "  Hith- 
erto ye  have  asked  notMng;  ask  and  receive,  that  your  joy  may  be  full." 

The  largest  portion  of  time,  and  interest,  he  contended,  should  now  be 
devoted  to  "  impotent  folk,"  who  had  not  succeeded  in  getting  into  the  pool. 
They  must  be  saved  to  day — they  should  be  saved  this  morning.  Let  those 
who  have  faith  help  them.     Every  moment  is  precious. 

The  rapidly  passing  time  was  filled  up  with  brief  testimonies,  and  the 
usual  singing  and  prayer  at  suitable  intervals. 

The  spirit  of  the  occasion  then  followed  the  people  to  the  restaurant, 
where,  during  the  breakfast  hour,  the  pface  presented  a  spectacle  of  wonder- 
ful interest.  People  praised  the  Lord  ;  those  who  had  remained  unconverted 
were  brought  under  conviction,  and  waiters,  while  busy  at  their  work,  were 
weeping  with  godly  sorrow  for  sin,  or  joining  in  the  stanza  : 

"  My  God  is  reconciled, 

Hia  pardoning  voice  I  hear, 
He  owns  me  for  His  child, 

I  can  no  longer  fear. 
Jesus  paid  all— all  to  him  I  owe, 

Sin  had  left  a  crimson  stain, 
He  washed  me  white  as  snow." 

A  prayer  ofi"ered  at  the  opening  services — that  nobody  might  come  on  the 
encampment  during  the  days  then  ensuing,  without  being  brought  in  direct 
contact  with  spiritual  influence,  had  been  answered  in  uncounted  instances, 
and  in  no  case  more  specifically  than  at  this  juncture.     It  would  seem  that, 


20'6  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

as  in  the  "  upper  room"  at  Jerusalem,  so  here,  "  they  were  all  filled  with  the 
Spirit."  The  conversation  at  table  was  of  "  refining  fire."  Groups  here  and 
there  under  the  shade  of  the  forest  trees,  were  rejoicing  together  in  "the 
abundance  of  peace."  Whenever  a  person  confessed  discouragement  or 
doubt  in  a  meeting,  he  was  noticed,  and  followed  after  by  twos  and  threes, 
who  engaged  him  in  private  conversation,  and  never  slacked  their  interest  in 
his  case  until  he  was  enabled  to  '•  step  out  fearlessly  on  the  promises,"  and 
go  forward  with  new  confidence  and  joy.  in  the  way  of  holiness. 

"  I  never  saw  the  like  of  this,"  was  the  oft  repeated  remark.  "  Everybody 
you  meet  begins  to  speak  of  Jesus,  and  his  uttermost  salvation.  Every 
group  of  persons  you  overhear  talking,  are  interested  in  the  one  subject.  An 
irreligious  man,  drifting  in  here  finds  nothing  congenial  to  ordinary  modes  of 
life,  and  must  soon  get  away,  or  '  go  down  '  and  pray  to  be  converted." 

If  there  were  exceptions  to  this  rule,  they  were  found  among  the  "  case- 
hardened  "  members  of  Christian  families,  who  become  familiar  with  such 
scenes. 


The  congregation  assembled  in  front  of  the  main  stand  was  very  large. 
Rev.  J.  B.  Foote  had  charge  of  the  exercises.  For  some  days  past  this  bro- 
ther's presence  and  voice  was  seen  and  heard  in  every  meeting.  Tireless,  he 
seemed,  in  the  activities  of  the  occasion.  His  rest  was  labor;  his  joy,  to  see 
such  numbers  in  the  valley  of  decision,  and  catching  the  earnestness  of  his 
own  spirit,  pressing  towards  the  mark — perfect  love. 
The  meeting  was  opened  by  singing — 

•'There  is  a  gate  staiuls  open  wiiie. 

And  through  its  portals  gleaming,  ^ 

A  r.idiauce  from  the  Saviour's  side, 
His  woudrous  love  revealing. 

"0  depths  of  mercy  can  it  he. 

That  gate  stands  open  wide  for  me — 
Stands  open  wide  both  night  and  day — 
Stands  open  wide  for  me?  " 

"  0  blessed  Spirit  lead  me  in, 
And  let  me  ftilter  never, 
Make  me  a  victor  over  sin, 
I'll  praise  Thy  name  forever."  .fee. 

"  Well,"  said  the  leader,  "  if  the  gate  now  stands  wide  open,  lets  go  right 
in — clear  in,  and  down  to  bed-rock,  out  into  clear  light,  and  up  into  pure  air. 
God  grant  we  may  get  this  day,  the  last  day  of  our  meeting,  the  most  solid, 
the  clearest  and  purest  experience  of  all  we  have  yet  received." 

The  answer  was  a  prolonged  "  Amen." 

Sister  Amanda  Smith  was  called  on  to  pray,  and  was  followed  by  Bro 
every  moment. 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  207 

After  singing  ngain  Bro.  F.  said,  "It  is  appropriate,  as  we  are  now  nearing 
the  close  of  our  meeting,  to  inquire  after  our  exact  whereabouts.  The  voy- 
ager crossing  the  ocean,  as  he  approaches  the  port,  examines  his  condition, 
and  finishes  any  necessary  matter  preparatory  to  landing.  The  business  man 
making  preparations  for  some  new  enterprise  on  the  day  preceding  its  com- 
mencement, reviews  his  propositions  to  S'>e  if  all  is  ready.  So  ought  we  now 
endeavor  to  know  how  far  we  have  advanced  in  our  searchings  and  preparations. 
Have  I  made  a  full  surrender  ?  Am  I  cleansed  from  all  sin  ?  Have  I  re- 
ceived the  Holy  Ghost,  and  do  I  possess  the  full  endowment  of  power  ?  Let 
us  speak  to  these  points  as  near  as  we  may.  We  might  call  this  a  position 
meeting^ 

There  was  no  hesitancy.  The  stand  was  crowded  with  ministers,  and 
every  man  of  them  seemed  ready  to  testify. 

Some  deference,  however,  was  shown  to  those  who  had  not  spoken  pre- 
viously. 

Rev.  Bro.  Long,  of  the  Pittsburg  Conference,  Major,  of  Philadelphia,  Dunn, 
of  Newark  Conference,  in  rapid  succession,  defined  their  position,  some  of 
them  growing  enthusiastic  to  a  high  degree,  as  they  recalled  the  glorious  cir- 
cumstances of  their  full  salvation  in  Christ  Jesus. 

Responses  increased,  showing  the  lively  attention  given  by  the  audience. 

A  narrative  of  his  early  life  was  given  by  Bro.  Bell  of  New  York,  describ- 
ing  the  evil  associations,  which  like  hooks  of  steel  bound  him  to  vicious  hab- 
its and  reckless  pursuits.  But  he  was  rescued  by  grace,  and  now  counted  it 
his  greatest  happiness  to 

"Tell  to  sinners  round 
What  a  dear  Saviour  he  haJ  found  ; 
To  point  to  His  redeeming  blood, 
And  say,  Behold  the  way  to  God." 

The  facts  and  incidents  of  his  mission  life  in  the  dens  of  vice  in  Water 
street,  were  of  a  thrilling  character.  With  such  evidence  as  he  gathered 
daily,  showing  the  saving  and  purifying  power  of  the  gospel,  he  could  not 
doubt  God,  and  exhorted  all  present  to  believe  for  a  perfect  and  complete 
salvation. 

With  unwonted  energy  the  congregation  joined  in  that  happy  refrain  from 
the  Sabbath-school : 

"  I  am  so  glad  that  our  Father  in  heaven. 
Tells  of  his  love  In  the  book  he  has  given, 
Wonderful  things  in  the  Bible  I  see. 
This  is  dearest  that  Jesus  loves  me. 
I  am  so  glad  that  Jesus  loves  me, 
Jesus  loves  me,  Jesus  loves  me, 
I  am  so  glad  that  Jesus  loves  m«, 
Jesus  loves  even  me." 

''I  feel,"  said  Brother  Foote,  "a  warm  affection  for  Brother  Inskip  and 
the  brethren  of  the  National  Association,  although  I  cannot  speak  of  being 


208  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL    CAMP-MEETING. 

incited  to  seek  holiness  by  their  ministrations.  I  entered  into  this  experi- 
ence before  I  ever  saw  or  heard  of  any  one  of  them.  Now,  I  want  to  say 
that  this  experience  came  to  me  after  six  years  of  service  as  a  Christian, 
during  which  I  did  not  blackslide.  '  I  was  first  converted  when  little  less 
than  thirteen,  but  took  a  new  start  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  from  which  time  on 
I  never  neglected  a  class  or  prayer  meeting  through  any  indiflference,  and 
never  failed  to  take  part  either  in  praying  or  speaking,  except  once;  and  for 
that  I  did  not  feel  condemned  at  all,  for  the  whole  six  years,  up  to  the  time 
at  the  age  of  twcnty-two,  on  the  9th  day  of  July,  1848,  when  I  entered  into 
this  blessed  state  of  triumph  and  rest. 

"It  was  in  a  class  meeting.  I  had  been  most  earnestly  canvassing  this 
whole  subject  for  weeks,  and,  especially  the  few  preceding  days,  I  had  the 
fiercest  struggle  of  soul  over  the  question  of  a  full  consecration  and  a  full 
cleansing.  In  this  state  of  mind  I  went  as  usual  to  class ;  not  in  condemna- 
tion for  any  transgression — not  with  any  sense  of  guilt — but  with  a  feeling 
of  sinfulness  and  humiliation  and  depression  almost  unbearable.  The  class 
leader  asked  me  to  open  with  prayer.  I  turned  to  refuse,  but  remembered 
that,  although  I  had  been  often  asked  to  pray  in  such  meetings,  and  at  the 
family  altar,  and  in  Presbyterian  prayer  meetings — for  my  parents  were 
Presbyterians,  and  I  had  often  gone  to  their  meetings — and  had  never 
declined,  I  would  not  decline  now.  After  prayer,  to  my  great  grief,  he 
called  on  me  to  lead  the  class.  Now,  I  never  was  a  class  leader  in  fact;  yet 
I  was  sometimes  called  on  to  assist  in  this  way,  and  had  never  refused;  and 
so,  somehow,  I  dare  not  now.  It  seemed  as  though  I  never  heard  the  old 
brethren  of  the  class  say  so  much  about  entire  sanctification  as  they  did  then . 
There  was  one  influential  man,  a  banker,  not  remarkable  for  his  piety,  I 
thought,  yet  that  night,  in  the  most  tender  and  touching  manner,  he 
expressed  his  interest  in  this  special  subject,  and  wished  he  and  all  the 
others  might  enjoy  it. 

"  How  could  I  give  any  advice  to  him?  I  only  spoke  of  myself;  and  so  I 
continued  again  and  again  confessing  my  own  deeply-felt  need,  my  longing, 
and  at  length  my  willingness  to  surrender  wholly  to  Jesus,  and  fully  accept 
him  as  ray  '  all  in  all.'  I  can't  give  the  details,  or  describe  my  feelings  just 
then;  suffice  it  to  say,  that  just  as  I  stood  under  the  pressure  of  deep  emo- 
tion, trembling  and  silent,  the  gentle  voice  of  a  precious  sister  broke  out  in 
singing — ■ 

"I  believe  it,  I  believe  it,  just  now."  / 

Jesus  at  that  moment  took  full  possession,  and  everything  contrary  to  his 
will  receded.  I  know  that,  not  in  a  backslidden  state,  I  received  a  distinct 
and  instantaneous  cleansing  from  all  sin  and  a  baptism  of  power  on  my 
heart;  and  I  received  it  by  simple  self-abandonment,  and  faith  in  the  all- 
efiicacious  merit  and  love  of  Jesus  Christ. 


A   MODERN  PENTECOST.  209 

"  Next  day  I  wrote  a  full  description  ia  my  journal,  covering  a  number  of 
pages;  and,  some  months  ago,  I  hunted  up  the  old  joui'nal,  to  see  if  my 
experience  at  that  time  agreed  with  the  theory  I  have  become  established  in 
after  years  of  mature  investigation,  and  I  found  it  was  genuine  and  ortho- 
dox, according  to  the  Bible  and  Methodist  standards.  I  wish  I  had  been 
more  steady  and  definite,  and  always  pronounced  on  the  subject;  but,  thanks 
to  God,  for  eight  years  past  I  have  enjoyed  a  steady,  precious  light  shining 
into  my  heart,  and  I  am  glad  to  testify  that  my  experience  does  corroborate 
the  doctrine  of  entire  sanctification,  as  a  distinct  and  instantaneous  blessing, 
'  receivable  now  by  faith.'  " 

Brother  Inskip  here  came  to  the  front,  saying  the  uniform  and  unvarying 
testimony  of  all  who  had  spjken  was  to  the  same  end — sanctification,  a  dis- 
tinct and  instantaneous  blessing,  to  be  received  by  faith,  and  hence  to  be 
received  now. 

"Who  will  receive  it?  The  matter  is  simplified  to  this  point — 'whoso- 
ever will.'  If  there  is  no  existing  antipathy  to  holiness — if  you  really  want 
this  full  salvation — it  is  free.  You  can  by  faith,  this  moment,  appropriate 
all  that  the  promise  of  God  signifies.  Let  all  who  sincerely  want  the  full- 
ness come  forward,  and  spend  awhile,  in  this  place  of  consecration  and  prayer, 
and  have  the  victory  that  comes  by  believing." 

Dr.  Hodgson,  being  on  the  stand,  rose  up  among  the  first,  and,  proceeding 
to  speak,  everything  was  hushed  to  hear  his  words.  He  said  :  "  I  have  been 
present  at  a  great  many  camp-meetings,  and  have  generally  attended  with  a 
view  of  preaching  one  or  more  sermons.  But  I  did  not  come  to  this  meeting 
to  preach  sermons;  nor  did  I  come  here  to  enjoy  social  intercourse  with  my 
friends.  I  came  to  he  blessed.  You  know  what  that  means.  That  is  what 
most  of  you  came  for.  I  want  a  blessing.  I  am  conscious  of  a  want  beyond 
what  I  have  in  my  present  experience.  I  dare  not  say  I  never  experienced 
this  special  blessing;  I  dare  not  say  I  enjoy  it.  I  propose  to  go  down,  and 
I  do  want  your  prayers." 

He  grew  touchingly  earnest  as  he  continued  to  speak  of  his  feelings,  and 
deliberately  stepped  down  oflP  the  stand,  followed  by  a  long  line  of  preachers, 
whose  hearts  were  melted  by  such  an  unexpected  movement,  and  tears  were 
running  from  many  eyes. 

Just  before  Dr.  H.  knelt  down,  he  turned  and  waved  his  hand  to  those 
standing  around  and  still  on  the  platform,  saying,  "  I  want  you  all  to  under- 
stand that  I  do  not  regard  this  as  going  down  in  any  sense  of  humiliation. 
I  don't  feel  that  way  at  all — rather  a  high  privilege." 

The  moral  effect  of  this  short,  simple  address,  and  the  movement  by  which 
it  was  accompanied,  was  perceptible  on  all  present.  The  few  ministers  and 
prominent  laymen  who  had  kept  aloof  from  the  altar,  and  spent  their  spare 
14 


210  SIXTEENTH   NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

hours  disputing  about  modes  of  operation  and  technical  points  in  phraseology, 
and  whose  self-respect,  as  they  thought,  would  be  compromised  by  the 
admission  that  any  man's  dictation  was  entitled  to  their  attention,  appeared 
to  be  nonplussed. 

Here  was  a  really  great  and  strong  man — one  on  whose  carefully-matured 
judgment  and  discrimination  they  had  relied  to  expose  the  flaws  and  illogical 
assumptions  of  those  who  were  associated  in  the  "  holiness  movement" — now 
on  his  knees  as  a  seeker  of  "  this  blessing."  They  evidently  felt  uncomfort- 
able, but  would  not  yield  to  the  force  of  any  new  convictions  which  may 
have  seized  them,  and  their  voice  was  not  heard  in  the  hymn  or  shout,  which 
told  the  listening  earth  and  the  bending  heavens — 

"  Washed  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb !" 

We  cannot  better  describe  the  meeting  of  this  morning  than  as  a  "  Modern 
Pentecost."  The  power  was  experienced  in  more  than  one  hundred  and 
twenty  hearts.  Grod  was  apprehended  as  graciously  near,  and  nobody  that 
we  noticed  among  the  rejoicing  throng  were  more  happy  in  an  assured  sense 
of  the  Divine  favor  than  those  who  saw  in  all  that  transpired  a  direct  and 
signal  answer  to  their  own  prayers. 

Before  Brother  Barker's  address,  Dr.  Levy  offered  thanks  to  the  blessed 
Saviour,  who  had  been  in  the  garden  here,  gathering  lilies — alluding  to  the 
conversion  of  one  hundred  and  forty-five  children  ;  and,  using  the  beautiful 
figure  from  Canticles,  he  added:  "We  have  found  a  place  in  thy  loving 
bosom,  let  us  now  reach  up  and  enjoy  the  kisses  of  thy  lips." 


THURSDAY,  lo  A.  M. 
ADDRESS  BY  REV.  JOSEPH  BARKER. 

The  announcement  that  Rev.  Joseph  Barker  was  about  to  speak  at  10 
o'clock  excited  pleasurable  anticipations,  and  drew  out  a  very  large  congre- 
gation at  that  hour.  A  hymn  was  sung,  and  Dr.  Levy  offered  a  deeply 
affecting  prayer. 

The  hymn,  "Jesus,  lover  of  my  soul,"  followed,  notices  were  given,  and 
Brother  Barker  was  introduced  to  the  audience,  and  proceeded  to  say: 

I  am  to-day  going  to  tell  you  my  own  experience.  I  am  a  believer  in 
the  doctrine  of  holiness,  the  profession  of  which  is  enjoined  on  us  as  a 
duty,  presented  as  a  great  privilege,  and   a  requisite   for  admission   to 


A    MODERN   PENTECOST.  211 

heaven  ;  to  be  obtained  by  faith  in  Christ,  to  be  sought  and  obtained  now, 
and  to  be  enjoyed  forever.  God  make  me  to  realize  it  fully,  and  keep  me 
ever  in  its  enjoyment  ! 

I  shall  read  to  you  the  following  passage  :  ''  As  a  shepherd  seeketh  out 
his  flock  in  the  day  that  he  is  among  his  sheep  that  are  scattered  ;  so  will 
I  seek  out  my  sheep,  and  will  deliver  them  out  of  all  places  where  they 
have  been  scattered  in  the  cloudy  and  dark  day."     Ezekiel  34,  12. 

There  are  some  people  who  begin  Christian  life  well,  who  seek  and  find 
the  Lord  early  in  life,  and  move  right  on  in  a  straight  direction  toward 
heaven  ;  their  path  is  the  path  of  the  just,  which,  as  a  shining  light,  shi- 
neth  more  and  more  unto  the  perfect  day. 

Others  for  a  time  have  run  well,  but  stray  away  and  wander  into  doubt 
and  unbelief.  This  was  my  case.  You  ask,  "  How  happened  it  that  you 
fell  under  the  influence  of  doubt  and  unbelief?"  I  will  tell  you.  But 
there  are  several  forms  of  skepticism,  which  arise  from  various  causes.  It 
arises  sometimes  from  habits  of  vice,  from  a  love  of  forbidden  pleasures — 
men  choosing  darkness  rather  than  light,  because  their  deeds  are  evil. 

Again  it  comes  through  other  causes.  Thomas  was  a  doubter  ;  so  was 
John  the  Baptist.  His  feet  were  well  nigh  gone,  because  darkness  was 
over  him  and  hung  in  clouds  around  the  providence  of  God  ;  he  was  dis- 
appointed in  Christ.  So  people  are  constantly  inclined  to  doubt  in  hours 
of  affliction,  not  understanding  the  mysteries  in  nature,  in  history,  and 
in  ourselves,  that  we  cannot  solve. 

I  was  not  led  into  unbelief  from  any  of  these  causes.  I  never  fell  so 
low  as  to  chew  tobacco,  drink  beer,  etc.  If  you  allow  a  little  leaven  of 
bad  feeling  to  get  into  your  mind,  in  time  it  will  go  through  your  whole 
nature;  and  this,  in  part,  is  the  explanation  of  my  fall.  I  got  bad  feeling 
toward  my  brethren,  and  then  I  grew  cold. 

I  will  tell  you  how  it  all  happened.  As  a  young  minister  I  wanted  to 
feel  that  I  was  right  in  my  belief ;  to  assure  myself  I  went  through  and 
through  the  Scriptures.  I  discovered  some  things  that  my  brethren  never 
taught,  which  I  thought  vital,  and  I  could  not  leave  them  out.  I  found 
if  I  was  to  bring  my  mind  to  receive  these  things,  I  must  make  alterations 
in  my  teachings.  I  did  so.  Then  the  brethren  whispered,  and  muttered 
complaints.  I  defended  myself  as  best  I  could;  this  provoked  contro- 
versy, and  acrimony.  I  was  a  practical  preacher ;  I  would  not  preach 
'  speculative  or  controversial  sermons;  I  wanted  to  press  Christians  onward 
in  the  way  to  heaven,  and  I  could  not  do  that  without  sifting  the  Church 
of  those  who  ought  not  to  be  there.  My  brethren  could  not  think  it 
right  for  me  to  do  this,  and  in  this  was  a  cause  of  grievance. 

I  wanted  to  make  things  very  plain,  but  I  had  to  deal  with  English 
folks  and  queer  communities.  I  saw  members  in  the  Church  that  could 
fail  seven  times  and  yet  be  sustained  as  though  their  action  was  all  upright. 
In  my  own  Church,  among  members  and  leaders  in  it,  I  would  talk  disci- 
pline ,  and  that  made  fresh  trouble ;  and  yet  I  saw  where  forty  men  had 
to  go  out  of  an  American  Church  on  account  of  imprudences  in  life,  to 
one  on  account  of  bad  conduct.  The  Church  of  which  I  was  a  minister 
was  a  small  body,  not  Wesleyan.  My  brethren  thought  I  was  impracti- 
cable, and  hence  I  became  more  and  more  obnoxious  to  them. 


212  SIXTEENTH   NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

At  this  time  I  became  the  publisher  of  a  periodical,  in  which  I  fully- 
expressed  my  own  views  ;  it  was  called  the  Evangelical  Reformer,  and 
soon  obtained  an  extensive  circulation.  But  before  Conference  came  on 
I  saw  that  I  was  to  be  brought  into  relations  of  opposition  ;  charges  were 
brought  up  against  me.  I  was  arraigned  before  Conference ;  not  yielding 
to  their  demands,  I  was  expelled.  I  was  not  so  far  sanctified  as  to  bear 
these  things  with  a  Christian  spirit,  and  I  found  myself  in  a  condition  of 
hatred  toward  my  brethren. 

The  farther  I  got  from  that  kind  of  people,  I  thought,  the  better.  I 
became  greatly  excited,  and  excitement  in  a  wrong  cause  is  a  dreadful 
thing.  I  have  two  friends  who  once  were  canvassing  for  votes.  One  of 
them  said,  "  Who's  John  Miles  going  to  vote  for?"  Being  answered,  he 
said,  "  Then  I'll  go  the  other  way."  Miles  had  defrauded  him  in  a  busi- 
ness transaction.  I  saw  some  ministers  and  Church  members  go  by  the 
houses  of  the  poor,  paying  them  no  attention,  but  making  their  calls  upon 
rich  men.  The  feelings  being  changed,  change  everything.  Everything 
Ave  do  is  tinged  with  it  ;  every  sermon  grows  more  severe  with  the  work 
of  exposure  and  denunciation.  All  this  time  .a  man  maybe  the  same  that 
he  ever  was,  but  we  fail  to  recognize  it.  I  had  this  weakness.  If  any  of 
you  think  you  have  it  not,  you  may  set  it  down  that  you  have  a  double 
portion  of  it. 

That  I  might  preach  without  salary,  I  learned  the  art  of  printing.  I 
wrote  and  published  extensively.  I  went  on  investigating  matters  with  a 
view  to  ascertain  their  full  bearing.  My  brethren  withdrew  from  me,  and 
being  bold  and  outspoken,  I  drifted  away  from  Christ. 

I  found  myself  drawing'  near  to  Unitarianism,  and  they  gladly  came 
near  to  me,  to  help  me  on  my  downward  way.  Unitarianism  is  not  one 
thing  but  everything,  from  a  close  proximity  to  Christianity  to  the  most 
violent  form  of  infidelity.  Those  nearer  the  truth  may  drift  the  farther 
from  it,  and  yet  by  that  system  be  accounted  good  disciples.  It  is  a  bad 
stream.  I  came  in  my  progress  near  to  utter  deism.  Then  I  got  into 
politics,  and  found  myself  in  a  whirl  of  double  excitement.  I  was  pros- 
ecuted by  the  government,  was  thrown  in  prison  where  I  remained  eight- 
een months.     In  the  midst  of  all  this  my  health  failed. 

I  resolved  then  that  Iwould  come  to  America.  My  family  now  began 
to  entertain  the  suspicion  that  I  had  drifted  away  from  Christianity. 
Arriving  in  this  country,  I  bought  a  large  farm  in  central  Ohio,  where  I 
might  have  done  well  and  lived  at  ease.  I  became  an  old  fashioned  Gar- 
risonian  Abolitionist,  and  entered  heartily  into  association  with  its 
leaders.  Of  that  company  all  were  infidels  but  one.  I  became  a  Woman's 
Rights  advocate.  I  might  have  enjoyed  myself  if  I  had  been  prudent, 
but  1  obtruded  my  opinions  on  my  neighbors  in  lectures  until  I  excited 
their  indignation  and  scorn.  In  my  last  lecture  the  young  men  resolved 
that  they  would  reward  me.  They  therefore  surrounded  the  place,  hav- 
ing first  supplied  themselves  plentifully  with  rotten  eggs.  I  took  a  differ- 
ent course  homeward  than  they  expected,  and  by  mistake  they  gave  their 
father  the  eggs.  But  I  was  not  to  get  off  so  easily ;  they  pulled  down  the 
fences  of  my  farm,  and  subjected  me  to  many  annoyances.  They  deter- 
mined to  make  me  move.  So  I  sold  out  my  form,  and  bought  property 
thirty  miles  farther  west  among  a  people  called   "  Come-outers."     Here, 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  213 

because  I  would  not  lead  the  life  of  abandon,  I  became  a  source  of  trou- 
ble. They  were  the  vilest  sort  of  men,  these  infidel  persecutors.  I  moved 
again,  this  time  going  far  into  the  wilderness  of  Nebraska,  then  twice 
as  large  as  Pennsylvania,  and  having,  through  that  vast  territory,  only 
about  2,000  inhabitants.  Here  I  was  therefore  safe.  I  settled  and  devoted 
myself  to  the  improvement  of  my  property. 

It  became  at  length  to  be  suspected  that  I  was  returning  to  a  better  life. 
I  began  to  be  quiet,  for  here  I  had  rest  and  opportunity  for  thought,  and 
from  that  settlement,  so  far  removed  from  the  life  I  had  been  living,  God's 
good  spirit  began  to  work  upon  my  heart. 

I  now  saw  how  much  I  had  lost  by  my  course  of  life  ;  the  world  looked 
dark  and  dreary  to  me;  I  wished  I  had  never  been  born.  I  was 
tempted  to  relieve  myself  by  a  fatal  step.  Suicide  is  the  one  consolation 
and  last  refuge  of  a  poor  infidel.  God  kept  me  from  it.  I  found  that  in- 
fidelity did  no^t  meet  the  wants  of  my  soul.  Any  man  of  heart  M-ants 
more  than  it  can  furnish ;  he  wants  a  Father,  a  Saviour,  a  Holy  Spirit.  I 
found  therefore  more  difficulty  on  the  side  of  infidelity  than  Christianity. 
I  saw  a  man  could  not  be  good  away  from  Christ  and  the  Bible.  The 
more  I  got  to  know  of  infidelity,  the  more  I  despised  it.  Out  in  this  vast 
wilderness  I  felt  strange  thoughts  come  into  my  mind.  Then  the  influ- 
ence of  my  family  came  over  me.  I  felt  that  my  children  were  believers 
under  the  shadow  of  an  unbelieving  father.  I  recalled  the  earnest  entreaty 
of  my  mother,  "  Joseph,  don't  leave  God,  or  deny  your  Saviour." 

Then  again  affliction  came  upon  my  family.  One  of  my  children  died, 
and  O,  I  thought  of  the  time  when  I  could  have  prayed,  but  now  it 
seemed  I  could  not. 

I  was  involved  financially.     In  three  weeks  I  lost  $50,000. 

Being  invited  to  lecture,  I  went  to  Philadelphia,  and  was  there  engaged 
for  three  months.  I  said  to  those  of  my  old  associates  who  gathered 
around  me,  we  can't  make  folks  good  by  infidelity.  Then  I  went  again 
to  the  churches,  but  finding  no  rest  for  my  troubled  spirit,  I  said  "  I'll  go 
to  my  native  country,  and  there  I'll  publish  a  periodical  in  which  I  will 
investigate  in  the  most  thorough  manner  this  whole  subject."  I  left  Phila- 
delphia and  started  for  England.  On  board  the  vessel  my  daughter  said, 
"Father,  when  you  go  to  England,  don't  think  of  such  a  thing  as  writing 
against  Christianity."  I  landed  in  .safety,  and  in  a  short  time  connected 
myself  with  a  paper  which  I  did  not  like  ;  my  family  found  out  where  I 
was,  and  it  gave  them  distress.  In  a  little  while  an  infidel  book  was  put 
in  my  hand  for  review.  I  opposed  its  filth  and  pernicious  sentiments, 
and  it  created  dissatisfaction. 

I  then  started  a  periodical  of  my  own.  I  said  in  my  very  first  issue, 
that  I  had  resolved  to  review  Christianity ;  to  examine  the  character  of 
its  founder,  and  try  to  ascertain  the  true  natufe  and  real  value  of  his  teach- 
ings and  his  spirit. 

I  kept  that  resolution.  When  I  came  to  read  the  Bible  over  I  found 
something  good  in  every  step  I  took.  Passages  which  had  suggested  ob- 
jections on  former  occasions  now  presented  themselves  in  a  different  light. 
I  went  through  the  book  of  Job,  and  it  melted  me.  I  was  astonished  at 
the  vastness  and  depths  of  the  wisdom  of  the  Book  of  Proverbs,  the  salu- 
tary influence  of  the  teachings  of  the  prophets,  who  were  men  of  clear 


214  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

vision,  of  great  wisdom  and  amazing  powers,  whose  aim  was  to  make  men 
true  and  good.  So  I  passed  on  until  1  came  to  the  Gospels.  Then  I  got 
sight  of  Jesus  of  Nazareth;  that  view  melted  my  whole  soul.  I  wept ; 
moistening  with  my  tears  the  book  in  which  I  was  reading,  and  the  paper 
on  which  I  was  writing.  I  saw  in  him  first  the  perfection,  the  grandeur, 
the  glory  of  all  human  excellency;  and  I  drew  his  portrait  accordingly, 
and  sent  off  the  articles  to  the  press.  My  daughters,  when  they  read  the 
proofs,  said  :  "  Father  is  coming  right  again."  I  had  no  thought  of  get- 
ting into  close  quarters  with  Jesus  the  Christ ;  but  as  I  looked  upon  him 
my  soul  was  drawn  by  a  powerful  attraction,  and  he  looked  on  me.  Then 
he  reached  out  his  hands  and  took  hold  of  me,  and  I  took  hold  of  him. 
In  the  grapple  for  life,  he  saved  me  ! 

From  that  day  to  this  I  have  been  working  for  God  in  England  and 
America. 

All  glory  to  God,  and  everlasting  praise  be  given  to  tlje  Father,  Son 
and  Holy  Ghost !  He  hath  done  all  things  well.  I  own  his  hand  even 
in  temporal  affairs  ;  for  the  ^50,000  worth  of  property  which  went  down 
to  nothing,  has  been  greatly  increased  in  value  of  late,  and  I  shall  have 
enough  and  to  spare. 

And  now,  I  may  in  conclusion  say,  my  tongue  and  pen,  my  time  and 
talents,  my  property,  family,  and  life,  belong,  and  shall  be  devoted  to 
Jesus  while  I  live. 

With  an  interest  almost  breathless  the  preachers  and  people  heard  him 
through.  As  he  neared  the  close,  and  referred  to  the  power  of  the  gospel  of 
Jesus  in  transforming  his  nature,  and  the  loving  look,  and  mighty  hand  of 
the  Saviour  extended  to  him,  and  the  way  he  took  hold  of  the  strength  of 
the  Divine  Son  of  God,  that  he  might  be  saved,  every  individual  within  hear- 
ing experienced  at  the  same  instant  a  touch  and  thrill  of  holy  power.  The 
speaker  could  not  proceed  much  farther,  and  wisely  closed  his  straight- for- 
ward story  in  the  very  midst  of  this  excitement. 

Bro.  Inskip  gave  a  signal  and  the  whole  audience  sprang  to  their  feet 
singing — 

"  All  bail  the  power  of  Jesus'  name, 
Let  angels  prostrate  fall; 
Briftig  forth  the  royal  diadem, 
And  crown  him  Lord  of  all. 
"  Let  every  kindred,  every  tribe, 
On  this  terrestrial  ball. 
To  him  all  majesty  ascribe. 
And  crown  him  Loid  of  all." 

As  the  noble  strains  of  "  Coronation"  rose,  the  pent  up  feelings  of  the  peo- 
ple found  expression  in  the  song. 

Recalling  them  for  a  moment,  Mr.  Inskip  said,  "What  might  appear  ex- 
travagant at  ordinary  times,  becomes  proper  at  others.  He  for  once  appre- 
ciated the  wish  expressed  in  the  verse  of  the  first  hymn — 

"  '  0  for  a  thousand  tongues  to  sing. 
My  great  Uodoemer's  praise  ; 
The  glories  of  my  God  and  King,  - 
Tlie  triumphs  of  bis  grace.'  " 


A   MODERN   PENTECOST.  215 

He  had  no  sooner  uttered  the  words  than  the  singing  burst  forth  again,  all 
joining  in  the  aspiration.     Then  followed  the  next  stanza — 

"  My  gracious  Master  and  my  God, 

Assist  me  to  proclaim ; 
To  spread  through  all  the  earth  abroad, 
The  honors  of  Thy  name." 

The  third  was  sung  with  undiminished  zest,  and  repeated  once  or  twice  by 
direction  of  the  leader,  when  all  attention  to  order  broke  down.  The  faces 
of  the  great  multitude  were  turned  heavenward,  and  a  light  brighter  than 
the  noonday  sun  flashed  over  the  scene.  It  was  rapture — bliss — heaven — a 
"joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory." 

Ministers,  aged  and  young,  were  embracing  each  other  in  the  stand  ;  some 
had  fallen  on  the  ground  overpowered  by  ecstatic  emotion,  and  the  people 
were  all  in  glorious  confusion,  each  in  his  own  way  heightening  the  general 

joy- 

Dr.  Hodgson,  who  had  gone  out  a  little  before  into  the  boundless  ocean  of 
perfect  love,  now  shouted,  with  his  face  shining,  "  This  is  the  time  for  '  Hal- 
lelujah !J  " 

"  Hallelujah"  became  the  watchword,  and  rolled  from  every  tongue.  The 
dinner  hour  was  forgotten,  and  on  this  tidal  wave  of  power  it  was  estimated 
that  many  souls  were  borne  into  that  haven  of  soul-rest  they  had  been  pre- 
viously seeking. 

The  scene,  in  every  respect,  was  most  extraordinary.  Nothing  like  it  had 
ever  occurred  in  the  experience  of  a  number  of  the  people  and  ministers  pre- 
sent. 

THE  AFTERNOON. 

Baptized  as  were  the  people  at  the  morning  services,  and  remembering 
that  the  series  of  meetings  during  the  afternoon  and  evening  were  to  be 
final,  every  place  was  crowded,  and  every  hour  marked  with  extraordinary 
interest. 

At  2  P.  M.  the  experience  meeting  in  the  Landisville  tent,  and  the  chil- 
dren's meeting  in  the  great  Tabernacle,  were  under  full  headway.  Groups 
were  also  gathered  at  various  other  points,  speaking  or  listening  to  those  who, 
filled  with  wonder  and  joy,  were  trying  to  express  their  new  realizations  of 
the  love  of  Jesus,  and  beseeching  others  to  "  prese^nt  their  bodies  a  living 
sacrifice,  holy,  acceptable  to  God." 

Lest  the  unprecedented  excitement  of  the  day  might  divert  in  any  degree 
the  public  mind  from  prayer  and  faith.  Rev.  Wm.  H.  Boole,  at  the  usual 
hour  for  afternoon  preaching,  took  the  congregation  in  hand.  Great  interest 
centred  in  this  service.  Many  souls,  it  was  safely  conjectured,  by  some 
lurking  prejudice  or  forbidden  pleasure,  were  still  in  the  gall  of  bitterness, 


216  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

cleaving  to  a  doubtful  indulgence,  whicli  would  rob  them  of  the  rich  com- 
munications others  were  enjoying,  and  they  might  return  to  their  homes  no 
nearer  salvation  than  when  they  came. 

A  season  of  great  grace  like  the  present,  if  not  used  with  honest  intent  to 
make  one  better,  might  react  to  make  him  worse,  and  plant  thorns  of  regret 
in  his  future  experience. 

To  strike  the  last  prop  of  hesitation  or  self  sufficiency  from  under  persons 
of  this  class,  and  bring  them  to  a  decision  and  full  surrender  of  themselves 
to  God,  seemed  to  be  the  aim  of  the  preacher.     He  commenced  by  saying : 

"  I  have  no  set  discourse  before  me,  but  I  want  to  say  that  it  is  not  yet 
high  tide.  It  is  several  hours  to  high  water.  God  intends  to  make  this  the 
most  mighty  and  glorious  meeting  ever  held  in  this  country.  Cast  up  the 
highway;  gather  out  the  stones.     Prepare  ye  the  way  of  the  people! 

"There  is  an  impediment  somewhere.  There  is  a  shore-line  that  must  be 
cut.  See  one  of  the  ocean  steamers  as  it  lies  fast  at  the  wharf  Cast  off  that 
bow-line.  Cast  off  the  quarter  line.  The  bow  of  the  vessel  is  in  the  current, 
but  the  stern-line  is  still  fast.  'Let  go  that  stern-line  !' cries  the  captain. 
Too  tight  to  unloose?  Then  cut  it.  It  is  done,  and  away  the  steamer  goes. 
Now  you  have  thrown  off  every  line  but  one.  The  Captain  sees  it;  and  if 
he  will  help  me  to  stimulate  your  will,  and  you  take  the  axe  and  cut  the  line, 
you  will  go  out  with  many  others  into  the  broad  ocean  of  peace.  But  you 
must  know  what  you  want.  It  will  not  do  for  you  to  say, '  Lord  help  me ;'  you 
must  know  what  you  want,  and  ask  definitely. 

"You  have  been  told  that  you  must  be  clear  in  justification,  that  you  may 
have  a  good  foundation  for  entire  sanctification.  This  is  a  good  general 
principle;  still  your  knowledge  may  go  ahead  of  your  faith,  and  you  may 
have  both  blessings  this  afternoon.  I  have  an  example  in  David.  He  had 
backslidden,  and  he  cries,  'Have  mercy  on  me,  0  God,'  &c. ;  then,  'Create 
in  me  a  clean  heart,  0  God,  and  renew  a  right  spirit  within  me.'  Here  are 
both  blessings.  Now,  you  may  put  both  these  in  your  consecration — sign  the 
deed  of  your  whole  self  to  God ;  do  it  once  and  forever. 

"  The  way  of  God's  blessing  me  you  are  not  to  meddle  with.  Let  God 
have  his  own  way.  Your  will  must  be  given  up ;  this  hinders  many.  Some 
are  full  of  joy;  you  may  not  be.  If  it  comes  in  a  gust  of  power,  or  in  a 
quiet  way,  say 'Amen.'  '  What  may  I  expect  when  I  am  blessed?'  You 
may  have  the  Holy  Spifit.  I  believe  that  several  times  I  have  secured  the 
blessing  of  heart  purity.  I  know  that  I  loved  God,  but  I  opposed  this  doc- 
trine ;  yet  I  gave  no  man  credit  for  loving  God  more  than  I  did.  God 
brought  the  light  to  shine  deep  in  my  nature,  and  I  found  a  nest  of  vipers 
there.  This  was  a  new  discovery,  and  I  went  to  my  closet :  I  put  every- 
thing  I  had  upon  the  altar,  and  my  sins  I  cast  away.     I  did  not  think  of 


A    MODERN   PENTECOST.  217 

putting  my  sins  upon  the  altar.  Then  I  began  to  believe  that  God  did 
accept  me.  I  did  believe  that  if  God  required  me  to  be  holy,  he  would 
indeed  make  me  holy;  and  I  said  'I  will  have  it.'  I  lived  ten  days  on  the 
promise,  'Man  shall  not  live  by  bread  alone.'  If  any  one  had  asked  me,  'Are 
you  blessed  ?' — ■'  Yes.'  Yet  I  was  not  fully  saved.  After  ten  days  God  came 
in  a  mighty  surge  of  fire,  that  shook  my  soul  through  and  through. 

"  I  need  not  say  how  I  lost  it ;  professors  of  religion  stumbled  me  out  of 
it.  Still  this  was  no  excuse  for  me.  I  began  to  seek  it  again ;  and  I  did 
not  fix  any  way,  or  thought  that  I  would  have  it  one  way  or  another.  I 
began  to  plead,  'If  we  confess  our  sins,  thou  art  faithful  and  just  to  forgive 
our  sins,'  and  'what  things  soever  ye  desire  when  ye  pray,'  etc.  I  pleaded 
these  promises,  and  believed  them,  and  went  to  bed,  and  in  about  twelve  hours 
after,  God  flooded  my  soul  again,  and  I  was  constrained  to  praise  him  mightily. 

"I  had  attained  a  higher  sense  of  purity  than  formerly,  and  now  had 
three  distinctive  communications  :  1.  The  baptism  of  fire  ;  2.  The  baptism 
of  love;   3.  The  baptism  of  joy. 

"There  are  some  things  which  you  must  do  before  you  are  sanctified :  you 
must  cleanse  yourself;  you  must  put  away  all  filthiness  of  the  flesh  and  of 
the  spirit ;  you  must  give  up  the  last  thing.  What  idol  is  in  your  way?  A 
wealthy  man  said,  '  If  I  find  that  my  business  interferes  with  my  religion,  I 
will  give  it  up.'  He  had  ten  thousand  dollars  invested  in  the  beer  business; 
be  found  it  was  wrong,  and  he  gave  it  up.  Now,  there  is  something  that 
hinders  you;  it  maybe  your  business — it  maybe  the  evil  constitutes  a  habit; 
and  you  have  run  in  these  ruts.  Now,  you  must  give  them  up,  even  if  you 
die.  You  may  ask,  '  Can  I  be  so  saved  from  it  that  I  shall  be  as  free  as  if  I 
never  had  these  habits?'     'Yes.' 

"  I  knew  a  man  in  California  who  tried  to  gain  the  victory  over  the  habit 
of  tobacco,  and  he  thought  it  would  take  away  his  life.  He  was  told  that 
God  had  power  to  cure  this  evil.  He  made  up  his  mind  to  have  it  settled, 
and  God  took  the  whole  appetite  away. 

''The  Doctor  said  he  was  astonished.  I  have  seen  scores  of  such  instances. 
You  must  not  experiment  upon  God.  You  must  trust  the  promise,  but  you 
cannot  claim  the  promise  till  the  conditions  are  fulfilled.  I  knew  a  man  who 
ate  opium  enough  to  kill  two  hundred  men.  He  came  to  the  altar  for 
prayer,  and  had  a  mighty  struggle.  He  confessed  his  fault ;  he  began  to 
give  it  up,  and  was  in  great  distress,  saying,  '  My  God !  what  shall  I  do  ?' 

"  'Why,  give  up  your  sin.' 

'"Why,  I  shall  die  if  I  do.' 

"  'Then  die  if  need  be.' 

"  Why,  there  is  no  sinner  that  God  cannot  save.  You  are  nobody  for  God 
to  save.  He  would  take  a  thousand  of  such  sinners,  and  save  you  in  ten 
minutes.     This  man  came  to  the  altar  one  Sabbath  nijrht.     I  said,  at  the 


218  SIXTEENTH   NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

close  of  the  meeting,  '  There  shall  not  another  prayer  be  offered  for  you, 
unless  you  say  you  will  give  up  that  sin,  even  if  you  die/  As  solemn  as 
though  he  was  signing  his  death  warrant,  he  said,  '  I  will  never  take  any 
more  if  I  die ;'  and,  in  a  few  minutes,  God  saved  him  gloriously.  In  a  week 
or  two  he  said,  'I  don't  feel  any  appetite  for  this  evil/  and,  after  five  years, 
he  still  declares  that  he  has  never  felt  this  appetite  since. 

"  So  there  is  some  evil  habit  in  your  case,  and  you  must  cast  it  off. 

"  Some  of  you  say,  '  I  can  be  saved  now,  but  can  I  be  kept  saved  V  I  say 
'  Yes.'  God  can  carry  on  his  own  work  without  any  of  your  help.  Just  look 
at  that  white  pebble  in  the  stream.  It  is  kept  pure  by  lying  in  the  stream ; 
and  just  so  you  may  lie  still  in  the  fountain  of  salvation,  and  be  kept  clean 
all  the  time. 

"  Salt  Lake  City,  among  its  wonders,  has  a  crystal  stream  always  flowing  from 
the  eternal  snows.  The  teams  may  come  along  and  the  waters  be  soiled ;  but 
on,  on  the  current  flows,  and  the  stream  is  soon  pure  again;  so  God  sends  the 
stream  that  makes  glad  the  city  of  our  God,  and  if  you  stay  in  it  you  are  kept 
clean. 

"  I  want  to  say  further  that  it  is  not  the  lack  of  faith,  but  it  is  a  lack  of  ex- 
ercise of  the  faith  that  you  have;  the  faith  that  justifies  is  the  faith  that  sanc- 
tifies. I  would  not  ask  you  to  increase  my  faith  till  I  had  used  all  the  faith  I 
had. 

"  I  useTl  to  think  that  faith  was  a  special  gift.  I  believe  that  every  Christian 
has  the  faith  by  which  he  might  be  sanctified.  '  What  things  soever  ye  desire 
when  ye  pray,  believe  that  ye  receive  them,  and  ye  shall  have  them.'  Ye  shall 
have  it  after  you  believe ;  it  never  will  become  an  actuality  till  you  take  it  by 
faith.  If  you  have  asked  God  for  what  he  has  promised  to  you,  believe  that 
God  will  fulfill  his  word  ;  there  is  no  thing  else  that  I  can  do  ;  wait  on  G  od  and 
let  that  thing  alone.  I  am  not  responsible  for  the  fulfillment  of  another  man's 
promise  ;  take  the  promise  to  pay,  and  go  on  rejoicing.  God  is  responsible  to 
fulfill  his  own  promises,  only  trust  him.  Don't  you  feel  any  anxiety  your- 
self? 'No;'  and  now  God's  express  train  is  never  behind  time.  If  Satan 
should  hinder  the  messenger,  then  he  would  put  on  more  speed,  and  reach  me 
before  I  was  in  want.  I  trust  God,  like  the  little  canary  bird  that  sung  on  a 
day  and  a  half,  without  a  seed — sing  on.  You  come  seeking  the  great  bles- 
sing, and  you  have  faith  to  lie  down  upon  the  promises,  and  you  are  under  a 
tlirccfold  obligation  to  believe.  1st,  to  your  own  soul,  you  are  under  obliga- 
tion to  eat  the  fullness  for  your  own  self;  you  must  eat  and  be  filled.  God 
wants  to  make  you  all  millionaires  in  his  kingdom. 

"2d.  You  are  under  obligation  to  God.  No  wonder  God  docs  not  set  his 
glory  before  you.  Half  a  character  is  not  set  forth  in  the  Scriptures.  God 
would  change  you  from  glory  to  glory  ;  you  are  under  obligation  to  God  to  re- 
ceive this  baptism.     Let  nothing  hold  you  back.     Get  it. 


A    MODERN    PENTECOST.  219 

"  3d.  For  the  sake  of  the  dying  multitudes  before  us  get  it !   get  it!" 

Brother  luskip  :  "  Let  all  who  will  have  the  blessing  now,  kneel  down." 
(Hundreds  knelt  down.)  "  If  there  are  any  of  you  that  do  not  expect  it 
now,  I  charge  you  to  rise  up."  (A  voice ;  "  I  will  not  rise  up.")  Silent  prayer 
followed. 

"Are  you  believing?" 

"  Yes." 

"  Can  you  believe  to  the  uttermost  ? 

"  Raise  up  your  right  hand.  Do  not  tell  an  untruth  ;  you  said  you  would  take 
it  by  faith,  and  you  have  not  done  it. 

"  Don't  doubt.  Any  man  that  believes  at  all  hazards,  and  will  not  doubt, 
raise  up  your  hand. 

"  Say  it  now  ;  '  I  will  not  doubt.'  " 

"I  ^o ill  not  clouht;  I  won't  doubt.  Say  it  all  over  -the  camp  '  I  will  not 
doubt.' 

"  Now  we  will  go  a  step  farther,  and  say,  '  I  will  believe ;'  put  your  whole 
will  to  it,  and  say  'I  will  believe.'  Hold  up  your  hand  and  say  it.  Go  a  step 
farther ;  you  cannot  doubt,  go  on  ;  you  can't  go  back,  go  forward.  '  I  do  be- 
lieve, I  do  believe.'     Hold  up  your  hand :  '  I  do  believe.' 

"  I  believe  Grod  saves  me  now  ;  stick  to  it.  You  that  say,  he  saves  now,  and 
will  believe  as  long  as  you  live,  raise  your  hand^j.  What  will  you  say  when 
you  rise  ?     Will  you  still  say,  '  I  believe.'  " 

After  silent  prayer,  he  said  :   "  Sing — 

"'Here  at  the  cross,  where  flows  the  blood, 
That  bought  my  guilty  soul  for  God  ; 
Thee,  my  new  Master,  now  I  call, 
And  consecrate  to  thee  my  all.'  " 

This  remarkable  service  helped  many  into  light.  Streams  of  grace  came 
down,  and  the  multitudes  went  away  under  the  most  solemn  pledges  to  abide  by 
this  act  of  consecration  as  long  as  they  lived. 

THE  LAST  PREACHERS'  MEETING. 

At  6  P.  M.  the  Tabernacle  was  once  more  a  scene  of  solemn  and  joyful  ser- 
vice. God,  angels  and  men  were  deeply  interested  in  its  heart-moving  medita- 
tions. The  hour  had  come  for  a  final  decision  on  the  part  of  any  preacher  who 
up  to  this  time  had  hesitated  to  take  his  position  squarely  on  the  platform  of 
personal  holiness.  But  few  in  such  a  case  as  this,  were  left,  and  they  were 
ready  to  say — 

"Tho'  late,  I  all  forsake 

My  friends,  my  all  resign  ; 
Gracious  Redeemer,  take,  0  take, 
And  seal  me  ever  thine. 
"  I  am  coming,  Lord;  coming  now  to  thee. 
Wash  me,  cleanse  me  in  the  blood  that  flowed  on  Calvary." 
"  Come  and  possess  me  whole, 

Nor  hence  again  remove  ; 
Settle  and  fix  my  wavering  soul, 
With  all  thy  weight  of  love !" 


220  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

Bros.  McDonald  and  E.  Davies  led  in  prayer,  after  which  the  former,  who 
had  charge  of  the  meeting,  said  : 

"  It  is  a  very  delightful  thing  for  a  minister  to  enjoy  religion,  and  a  great 
privilege  to  sit  under  his  ministry.  I  would  rather  sit  under  the  ministry  of 
such  a  man,  if  he  had  but  little  learning,  than  the  most  learned  man  without  it. 
I  have  a  pastor  who  enjoys  religion,  and  I  love  to  hear  him  preach.  He  tells 
us  if  we  love  to  hear  him  as  much  as  he  loves  to  preach  to  us,  we  must  be  the 
happiest  people  on  earth.  He  has  an  experience  to  tell  in  every  sermon,  and 
although  it  is  not  according  to  common  usuage,  yet  he  turns  his  pulpit  into  a 
witness  stand,  and  testifies  of  the  grace  that  saves  to  the  uttermost." 

A  brother  here  remarked  that  the  man  to  whom  Bro.  McDonald  refen*ed, 
was  Dr.  Steele.  "  I  heard  him  at  several  camp-meetings  last  summer,  and  there 
is  always  an  unction  attending  his  word.  I  believe  that  the  crowning  baptism 
of  the  Holy  Ghost  on.  us  ministers  will  enable  us  savingly  to  impress  the  un- 
converted, and  lead  them  to  Christ.  It  is  not  only  the  spirit  of  love,  and  purity, 
and  self-denial,  but  the  power  that  brings  sinners  to  God ;  hence  there  were 
three  thousand  converted  on  the  day  of  Pentecost." 

He  proceeded  to  speak  of  President  Finney,  and  the  wonderful  endowment 
that  man  possessed,  saying :  "  I  want  this  power,  that  may  be  conveyed  by  a 
look,  or  a  word  ;  that  will  pierce  like  a  sword,  break  the  heart  like  a  hammer, 
and  burn  like  fire.  Heart-purity  is  only  the  alphabet  of  full  salvation.  After 
this,  God  can  fill  and  furnish  the  soul,  and  beautify  it  with  all  the  graces  of  the 
Spirit." 

A  brother  said :  "  That  is  what  I  want.  I  came  here  to  obtain  all  that  there 
is  for  me.  I  feel  that  I  am  saved — wonderfully  saved  ;  but  I  pray  God  to  fill 
me." 

"  When  I  entered  the  car  to  come  here,"  said  a  preacher,  "  I  wanted  to  be 
alone  with  Jesus.  As  two  lovers,  happy  in  each  other's  company,  so  Jesus  has 
been  with  me,  and  keeps  my  mind  and  heart  in  perfect  peace." 

"I  came  here  in  a  dark,  indefinite  state;  but  now  all  is  light.  Oh,  how  I 
have  mourned  that  I  could  not  heretofore  feed  the  best  part  of  my  flock.  Now 
I  am  just  beginning  to  live.  I  have  grown  more  during  the  last  few  days  than 
for  many  years  before." 

Others  in  a  similar  strain  proceeded  to  acknowledge  the  benefits  they  had  de- 
rived from  this  meeting,  and  their  purposes  to  go  home  and  trust  Jesus  while 
they  held  up  the  banner  of  gospel  holiness. 

With  prayer,  and  mutual  pledges  to  be  faithful  to  God,  and  the  doctrine 
of  salvation  from  all  sin,  and  a  last  farewell  in  view  of  the  probability  of  meet- 
ing no  more  until  the  Judgment  morning,  the  Preachers'  Meeting  here  closed, 
and  the  crowd  of  deeply  interested  spectators  took  their  way  to  the  circle,  where 
the  final  public  services  were  about  to  be  held.     There  let  us  follow  them. 


A    MODERN   PENTECOST.  221 


THE  CLOSING  SERVICE. 


When  it  was  intimated  that  the  religious  services  of  the  meeting  would 
close  on  Thursday  night,  the  interest,  steadily  rising  all  day,  reached  a 
climax  of  intensity. 

The  population  of  the  surrounding  towns  and  country  seemed  to  have  been 
transferred  to  the  camp  ground.  When  the  time  for  preaching  was  an- 
nounced by  the  bell,  a  vast  congregation  was  already  seated  in  front,  and 
crowds  came  pouring  in  from  every  avenue  to  swell  the  expectant  throng. 

As  niiiny  ministers  as  it  could  hold  filled  the  stand ;  and,  after  a  familiar 
hymn  had  been  sung,  the  venerable  Father  Coleman,  who  during  the  entire 
progress  of  the  meeting  had  taken  his  share  at  the  laboring  oar,  and  seemed 
as  fresh  as  when  it  began,  offered  a  simple  and  comprehensive  prayer  for 
special  help  in  this  hour  of  need. 

Fdr  the  last  time  the  Secretary  read  his  list  of  "  Requests  for  Prayer." 
Mothers  wanted  their  children  converted.  A  medical  doctor  on  the  ground 
was  a  subject  of  supplication,  that  he  might  accept  Christ  and  be  saved  to- 
night. The  children  of  "  a  father  who  never  entered  the  house  of  God" 
wanted  that  father  awakened  and  made  a  Christian  man.  And  so  the  read- 
ing ran.  Silently  the  whole  audience  rose  when  asked  to  do  so,  and  each 
case  was  laid  before  the  Heavenly  Father. 

In  a  few  introductory  words  the  President  introduced,  as  the  preacher  of 
the  evening, 

REV.  DR.  NAST,  OF  CINCINNATI. 

The  Doctor,  in  the  midst  of  much  excitement,  found,  as  might  be  sup- 
posed, a  good  deal  of  embarrassment  in  giving  free  and  full  expression  to  the 
ideas  that  filled  his  mind,  and  the  emotions  which  stirred  bis  heart,  in  a 
tongue  foreign  to  him;  but  he  made  himself  understood,  as  he  read  and 
applied  the  words  of  the  apostle  (Gal.  2:  20),  "I  am  crucified  with  Christ; 
nevertheless  I  live;  yet  not  I,  but  Christ  liveth  in  me;  and  the  life  which  I 
now  live  in  the  flesh,  I  live  by  the  faith  of  the  Son  of  God,  who  loved  mo, 
and  gave  himself  for  me." 

He  said  he  could  not  have  consented  to  address  the  people  on  such  an 
imposing  occasion  but  for  the  lessons  of  faith  taught  by  Brother  Boole  in  the 
alternoon. 

"  It  is  an  act  of  faith  in  Christ  for  me  now  to  preach,  and  I  trust  him  to 
help  me,  as  I  do  to  save  my  soul.  If  Christ  speaks  through  one  of  the  weak- 
est of  his  servants,  all  right.  I  only  want  to  glory  in  the  cross.  I  know  I 
have  your  prayers.  If,  like  Peter,  I  begin  to  sink,  I  shall  cry,  '  Lord,  save 
me !' 


222       '  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP-MEETING. 

"After  all  I  have  heard  and  seen  here,  I  think  I  am  about  the  hardest 
case  among  you.  This  morning  you  had  a  converted  infidel  to  speak  to  you, 
but  he  was  a  grand  believer  in  comparison  with  William  Nast.  For  three 
years  I  walked  in  the  desolation  of  thick  darkness.  I  recall  with  deep 
interest  the  17th  of  January,  1835,  when,  near  Danville,  in  this  State,  I 
grappled  with  the  monster  Despair. 

"It  is  different  these  times.  There  is  not  so  much  struggling  as  believing. 
We  had  not  so  much  light  then.  I  was  at  a  meeting  some  time  ago  at  13u- 
cyrus,  Ohio,  and,  stopping  with  a  German  family,  the  sister  said  to  me, 
'They  make  no  account  of  getting  religion  now-a-days ;  just  believe;  come 
to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ;  ask  what  you  need;  He  will  save  you;  and  that 
is  all.  In  our  times  we  mourned  a  good  deal,  and  prayed,  and  thought  if  we 
were  blessed  after  days  or  weeks  of  efi"ort,  it  was  a  great  thing  '  I  told  the 
sister,  'After  all  it  was  present  faith,  and  not  struggling  or  praying,  that  met 
the  conditions  of  the  gospel.' 

"  But  I  have  gotten  off  the  track.  0  how  much  trouble  I  gave  the  Lord 
and  the  Church  to  get  me  right  side  up  !  When  I  was  converted  (I  had  been 
for  some  time  a  praying  man)  I  was  blessed  at  the  family  prayer ;  yet  at  night 
I  was  at  the  mourners'  bench  again.  The  brethren  got  tired  seeing  me  hang- 
ing on  to  doubts  and  fears ;  but  the  mothers  stuck  to  me,  and  continued  to  help 
me  by  their  sympathy  and  prayers.  I  was  in  a  love-feast,  and  all  ai'ound  "ap- 
peared so  lovely,  as  if  they  had  washed  their  robes  and  made  them  white ;  but  I 
looked  at  myself  as  so  unholy,  I  could  have  crept  through  a  hole  in  the  floor. 
I  admired  holiness,  and  used  to  preach  it ;  but,  I  fear  that  as  long  as  we  were  fond 
of  smoking,  we  could  not  read  our  title  clear. 

"  I  was  in  this  way  when  Bro.  McDonald  came  to  Cincinnati  to  hold  a  meet- 
ing. I  thought,  now  is  my  time.  A  German  brother  got  sanctified  out  West, 
and  began  to  publish  flaming  articles  through  the  Apologete  (Dr.  Nast's  paper) 
and  I  was  greatly  troubled.  I  thought,  now  we  will  have  a  breeze  ;  I  must  put 
on  the  brakes. 

"  But  I  wanted  it,  and  it  seemed  the  Spirit  led  me.  Bro.  McDonald  called 
on  me  to  pray  the  very  first  night  of  the  meeting,  and  then  I  gave  myself  away 
to  be  forever  the  Lord's.  He  had  to  pour  upon  me  one  baptism  after  another ; 
and  even  in  my  dreams  I  was  interested  in  this  matter  of  purity  more  than  any 
other.  I  felt  as  Bishop  Hamline  describes,  when  the  blood  seemed  to  come  all 
over  him,  cleansing  eveiy  part  of  his  nature.  0  gloiy  be  to  his  name;  I  know 
his  blood  cleanses  me  now ! 

"  I  find  I  am  not  preaching  you  a  sermon.  Well,  I  couldn't  preach  you  an 
eloquent  sermon  if  I  was  to  try.  I  don't  want  to  be  of  that  kind  ;  but  let  the 
Lord  use  me  just  as  he  wants  to. 

"  Now  let  us  turn  and  look  at  the  words  of  Paul — '  I  live  by  the  fliith  of  the 
Son  of  God,  who  loved  me,  and  gave  himself  for  me.'    • 


A    MODERN   PENTECOST.  223 

"What  is  more  natural  than  that  we  should  love  one  who  died  for  us?  Jesus 
gave  himself— this  means,  he  paid  the  debt.  He  died  for  sinners,  that  he 
might  save  them  and  then  live  in  them.  What  sort  of  a  life  is  this  ?  It  is  a 
life  of  ftiith— the  faith  of  the  Son  of  God.  Whatsoever  is  not  of  faith  is  sin. 
There  is  no  other  way  for  us  to  be  made  free  from  sin,  but  by  faith.  This  ad- 
mits us  to  the  heaven  of  love,  and  through  it  we  get  to  the  heaven  of  heavens. 

"Look  at  the  arrangement  to  make  us  partakers  of  the  divine  nature.  Christ 
was  incarnated,  and  we  are  ingrafted  in  him.  No  man  can  adopt  Paul's  lan- 
guage here,  unless  he  has  power  over  sin.  Its  dominion  is  broken.  You  have  to 
die  before  you  get  this  life.  As  sure  as  you  have  to  die  to  get  into  the  other 
world,  you  must  die  unto  sin,  to  get  the  Christ  life.  Some  of  us  have  been 
half  dead  and  half  alive.  This  is  a  poor  arrangement.  Notice  persons  dying 
naturally.  They  cling  to  life.  The  tide  ebbs  and  flows ;  but  at  length  they 
give  up,  and  are  dead.  So  through  the  law,  Paul  died,  that  he  might  have  the 
new  life,  and  live  unto  Christ.     "  By  his  stripes  we  are  healed." 

"  Healed !  Yes,  all  our  surroundings  are  changed.  The  world  may  look 
down  on  this  proceeding,  but  that  is  of  no  account.  If  we  suffer  with  him,  we 
shall  also  reign  with  him. 

"  When  I  came  to  this  camp-meeting  I  thought — what  a  privilege  to  be  here  ! 
I  shall  never  forget  today  at  noon,  and  the  other  night.  If  any  are  yet  m  their 
sins,  Grod  have  mercy  on  you  !  There  is  power  here  to  save  you  to-night.  And 
brethren  —there  is  a  power  to  enable  every  one  of  us  to  live  better  than  ever  be- 
fore. We  must  hereafter  let  this  light  shine  on  the  pathway  of  others,  and  save 
all  we  ^an  in  the  name  of  Jesus  before  we  die.  The  next  time  we  meet  will  be 
at  the  Judgment.    May  the  Saviour  in  condescending  grace,  bless  us  all.    Amen." 


A  LAST  APPEAL. 

Eev.  J.  S.  Inskip,  following  Dr.  Nast,  said—"  There  are  two  periods  which 
always  excite  tremendous  sensations  in  my  heart — the  beginning  and  close  of  a 
meeting  like  this.  I  have  gone  through  those  sensations  at  the  commencement 
and  we  now  have  reached  the  close.  After  all  that  has  been  done  here,  I  feel 
some  regret  that  we  have  not  done  more  ;  and  yet  the  Lord  may  do  more  for  us 
to-night  than  all  before  this  hour.  0  Lord,  convert  every  sinner  throughout  the 
camp ;  and  sanctify  every  believer  here !  (Amen !  was  shouted  by  a  hundred 
voices  at  once.) 

"  If  we  were  in  the  condition  we  ought  tobe,-there  would  be  an  all-conquer- 
ing moral  power  here  to-night.  I  am  in  sympathy  with  the  idea  that  this  tre- 
mendous responsibility  resting  upon  us,  is  to  a  great  extent  pervading  all  minds. 
Some  here  may  be  ready  to  exclaim,  '  The  harvest  is  past,  the  summer  is  ended, 
and  we  are  not  saved.'  But  you  are  not  lost  j  and  if  not  saved,  you  may  be 
saved  to-night.  0  sinner,  if  you  pass  through  such  a  scene  as  this  unconverted, 
you  will  go  out  into  night  eternal,  where  there  is  no  morning;  no  hope.  0  ye 
gay  and  wanton  triflers,  hear  this  last  call  and  turn  to  Christ.    Fly,  fly  to-night, 


224  SIXTEENTH    NATIONAL   CAMP- MEETING. 

to  the  open  arms  of  mercy.  0  believers  in  Jesus,  why  such  hesitation  on 
your  part  to  go  out  and  persuade  the  unconverted  to  seek  after  God !  We 
ought  in  some  way  or  other  to  bring  five  hundred  sinners  to  the  Saviour  to- 
night. Let  the  watch-cry  of  the  camp  be  '  The  sword  of  the  Lord  and  of 
Grideon!'  and  be  assured  this  meeting  will  wind  up  with  a  baptism  of  fire. 
Come  on  here,  and  let  us  get  to  work  in  earnest.  We  want  no  dress  parade, 
or  scientific  music.  Backsliders  are  all  around  us,  and  it  is  no  wonder.  The 
Church  is  asleep.  We  do  not  intend  to  divide  the  Church,  but  with  the  help 
of  Grod,  we  will  go  on  preaching  holiness,  ai.d  praying  holiness,  and  singing 
holiness,  and  talking  holiness,  until  we  get  on  the  ramparts  of  the  new  Jeru- 
salem and  help  to  shout  'Hallelujah,  the  Lord  God  Omnipotent  reigneth  !'  " 

The  speaker,  at  this  point  was  under  very  strong  excitement,  and  the  an- 
swering shouts  from  a  congregation  catching  his  enthusiasm,  rolled  up  in 
volumes  of  sound.  To  quiet  the  apprehensions  of  those  who  might  suppose 
he  was  going  beyond  his  strength,  he  said  he  was  "  hooped  and  bound,  and 
could  not  blow  up  until  the  Lord's  time." 

He  was  thankful,  in  reference  to  his  own  conversion,  that  he  got  in  early; 
and  it  was  no  namby-pamby  affair.  His  father  opposed  him,  and  would  not 
countenarfce  his  holding  meetings,  lest  his  sisters,  too,  should  'turn  fool,'  as 
in  the  old  gentleman's  estimation,  he  had.  He  finally  had  to  leave  his  home, 
on  account  of  professing  religion. 

He  was  happy,  singing  as  he  took  his  little  bundle  and  started  over  the 
hills  to  find  another  home.  An  old  Quaker  lady  comforted  him,  and  his  good 
class-leader  stood  his  friend.  He  was  quickly  sent  for  to  return  home.  His 
father  had  been  taken  sick.  When  he  went  in,  his  mother — a  queenly  woman 
who  taught  her  children  to  pray  and  revere  the  Bible — told  him  the  state  of 
the  case.  The  father  was  under  conviction.  He  had  been  heard  praying, 
and  now  asked  the  boy  he  had  driven  aw^y  in  his  wrath,  to  call  in  the  neigh- 
bors, and  intercede  with  God  for  him.  He  was  converted,  and  father  and 
mother  are  now  in  heaven,  while  he  was  going  on  the  way  to  meet  them 
again.     Closing  this  interesting  narrative,  he  then  shouted: 

"Clear  all  this  space  in  front  for  the  seekers.  Come  on;  and  while  you 
kneel  here  enter  into  solemn  covenant  to  be  wholly  the  Lord's.  Let  Christians 
again  go  out  and  speak  to  everybody  they  find  unsaved,  and  invite  theui  to 
Jesus  to-night." 

This  general  order  was  instantly  obeyed.  Away  went  the  preachers  and 
people  in  search  of  unconverted  friends  or  strangers,  and  returned  at  inter- 
vals, bringing  penitents  to  the  altar. 

All  were  filled  with  thankfulness  for  the  mighty  influence  exerted  by  the 
meeting.  It  was  nearly  eleven  o'clock  when  the  final  doxology  was  sung,  and 
the  benediction  of  the  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost  invoked  upon  the  people, 
now,  henceforth,  and  for  evermore. 

At  length  quiet  reigned.  The  great  meeting  was  over.  "  Visions  and 
dreams,"  it  is  presumable,  were  entrancing  after  such  a  day  of  salvation.  Its 
memories  shall  remain 

"While  life,  or  thought,  or  being  last, 
Or  iiiimortaliti'  oiiduro." 


CROWDED    OUT. 

With  the  preceding  page  our  printer  abruptly  closes  his  "forms," 
leaving  a  large  amount  of  our  most  interesting  matter  unpublished. 
His  prescribed  order  for  a  book  of  224  octavo  pages,  he  has  faith- 
fully adhered  to,  leaving  us  barely  the  space  in  which  to  apologize 
for  what  has  been  inexorably  omitted. 

We  had  a  full  report  of  the  Children's  Meetings,  held  each  day 
in  the  National  Tabernacle  by  Mrs.  Inskip,  and  which  resulted  in 
the  clear  conversion  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  souls.  Miss 
Gant,  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  who  acted  as  Secretary,  prepared  this 
thrilling  narrative,  at  our  request.  Its  absence  here  is  a  serious 
loss  to  the  completeness  of  our  general  rtcord. 

A  sketch  of  the  profoundly  interesting  work  in  Mrs.  Boyle's 
tent,  which  included  the  conversion  of  sinners,  the  restoration  of 
backsliders,  and  the  entire  sanctification  of  many,  is  also  crowded 
out,  as  is  our  Chapter  on  "  Breaking  Camp"  on  the  morning  of  Fri- 
day, August  1st,  with  its  affecting  and  memorable  incidents. 

Numerous  pages,  containing  experiences  of  ministers  and  busi- 
ness men,  and  descriptive  sketches  of  the  crowning  baptism  of 
Thursday  morning,  are  also  laid  over,  greatl)'  to  our  regret.  Such 
has  been  the  pressure  and  perplexity  under  which  the  present  edi- 
tion has  been  hurried  to  press,  that  these  defects  were  unavoidable, 
and  we  crave  the  kind  indulgence  of  all,  having  done  what  was 
possible  to  fulfill  the  obligation  assumed. 

Only  a  limited  supply  has  been  printed.  Should  the  demand 
justify  it,  we  may  revise,  enlarge,  illustrate  and  stereotype  the  work 
in  still  better  style ;  for,  a  better  book  than  this,  to  teach  practical 
holiness,  we  have  never  had  the  privilege  to  examine.  And  with 
such  a  conviction  we  send  it  forth  on  its  mission. 

THE  EDITOR 


AT  THE  OFFICE  OF 

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No.  14  North  Seventh  St.,  Philadelphia, 
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The  fQllowing  may  be  ordered,  and  will   be  sent  by  mail,  pre-paid,  on 
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The  Earnest  Minister,    Rev.   R.   V.   Lawrence,  with  portrait,  and 

beautiful  illustrations,  lamo $1  50 

The  Parson  of  the  Islands — a  Biography  of  the  eccentric  Joshua 
Thomas,  who  believed  God,  and  wrought  righteousness.     Large 

1 2mo.,  412  pages,  six  illustrations.     By  Rev.  A.  Wallace i   50 

Days  of  Power  in  the  Forest  Temple — A  Record  of  Fourteen   Na- 
tional Camp-meetings.      By  Rev.  George  Hughes,   Secretary  of 

the  National  Camp-meeting  Association.       4  steel  engravings i   50 

The  Life  of  Rev.  Alfred  Cookman,  with  beautiful  portrait 2  00 

Perfect  Love,  by  Rev.  John  A.  Wood i   50 

Life  and  Labors  of  Mrs.  Van Cott,  with  portrait i   50 

A  Jewelled  Ministry — Life  of  Rev.  Thomas  Collins i   25 

yesus — A  Portrait.     By  Rev.  Joseph  Barker i  00 

Christiati  Perfection.     By  Rev.  Wm.  Major,  M.  D 60 

Revival  and  Camp-Meeting  Hymns — Over  400  of  the  Old  Melodies  50 

Music  of  all  the  late  Popular  Songs  of  Zion,   per  hundred  sheets i   00 

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-r  '^ 


